The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine, right knee, and right hip disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence showed flexion limited to at most 60 degrees, which is within the range for a 20 percent disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbar Spine, Right Hip Condition, Service Connected Residuals of Right Knee Medial Meniscectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 15, 2019
- Citation
- 19103688
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and chronic sinusitis. However, it granted an increased disability rating of 30 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy.
- Granted
The Board granted increased ratings for sinusitis, left knee condition, right knee condition, back condition, and right hip condition, effective from August 15, 2023.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a right shoulder condition, tinnitus, hypertension, a right hip condition, bilateral knee conditions, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities as there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, service connection for GERD, chronic headaches, left and right hip conditions, and a lumbar spine condition due to insufficient evidence.
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