The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, arthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbar strain, and right foot metatarsalgia with calcaneal spur are not rated higher than 10 percent prior to May 16, 2011.,For the period beginning May 16, 2011, the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome is rated at 10 percent; left knee patellofemoral syndrome and arthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbar strain are each rated at 10 percent; and right foot metatarsalgia with calcaneal spur is rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 30 percent prior to May 16, 2011, and 40 percent beginning May 16, 2011.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Patellofemoral Syndrome, Left Knee Patellofemoral Syndrome, Arthritis of the Lumbar Spine with Lumbar Strain, Right Foot Metatarsalgia with Calcaneal Spur, Tension Headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19104059
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,456 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19104059.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 70 percent to 50 percent, effective February 20, 2025. The Board finds the reduction improper and restores the 70 percent disability rating for PTSD.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted SMC at the rate of 50% for his service-connected conditions from April 20, 2020 to June 7, 2021.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and earlier effective dates for tension headaches and lower back condition. The remaining issues of service connection for eye, neck, persistent cough, TBI residuals, and bilateral leg conditions are REMANDED.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at a 10% disability rating, effective from the date of the June 2020 decision. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.
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