The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings and an effective date prior to May 31, 2011 for sciatica of the left lower extremity. The reduction in rating for DDD of the lumbar spine from 20% to 10% was granted. Claims for higher ratings for various knee disabilities are also addressed.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims were based on service-connected conditions and did not involve any presumption or secondary service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- DDD of the lumbar spine, sciatica of the left lower extremity, arthritis and chondromalacia of the right knee, instability of the right knee, total right knee replacement, arthritis and chondromalacia of the left knee, total left knee replacement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19149812
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,199 · Granted: 25% (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 19149812.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine condition, sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities, and bilateral hips due to outstanding VA records. The Veteran's treatment records from Fayetteville VAMC need to be re-associated with the claims file.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him substantially confined to his dwelling and immediate premises prior to his death, granting entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status for accrued purposes.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for a teeth disability, sciatica of the right lower extremity, and sciatica of the left lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional development.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for limitation of motion and instability of the right knee is granted with an effective date of May 17, 2011. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.