The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent prior to September 12, 2016 and denied for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent and denied for a higher rating.,The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent and denied for a higher rating. The limitation of flexion associated with the left knee strain is also denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show that the Veteran’s degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has resulted in forward flexion to 30 degrees or less, which would be required for a higher rating.,The evidence does not show that the Veteran's right knee disability is manifested by chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity, which would be required for a higher rating.,The evidence does not show that the Veteran’s left knee strain with degenerative joint disease has resulted in flexion greater than 30 degrees on or after September 12, 2016, which would be required for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, Right knee disability (chondromalacia of the right patella with torn medial meniscus repair and osteomalacia), Left knee strain with degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20001738
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,156 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20001738.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar spine and right hip disabilities due to a duty to assist error. The effective date for DEA benefits is granted as May 1, 2014.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and higher initial rating for his back disability is denied. The effective date remains March 29, 2021, as the earliest date of claim. An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the back disability from March 29, 2021, is also denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability and right leg radiculopathy are granted service connection, but left leg radiculopathy is denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
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