The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is granted a 40% rating, and his right knee conditions are denied increased ratings. Service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae (skin disability) is remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows the Veteran’s lumbar spine condition has been primarily noted as increasing in severity to include needing a back brace and limited by chronic pain, warranting a 40% rating under Diagnostic Code 5242. The right knee conditions do not meet criteria for higher ratings based on limitation of motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with arthritis, Right knee limited flexion, Right knee limited extension
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- June 3, 2020
- Citation
- 20038132
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 20038132.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions, including left and right elbow disabilities, left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome with osteoarthritis and meniscal tear, right foot callus, and right knee instability. The decision also restored the 10 percent rating for left knee instability and right elbow radial head fracture.
- Granted
The Board granted increased ratings of 20 percent for right and left knee limited flexion, a 40 percent rating for the low back condition, and a 30 percent rating for right shoulder strain, all effective June 23, 2023.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected knee and back disabilities limited her ability to work, but she was able to retire from her job as a respiratory therapist. The Board denied TDIU because the evidence did not show that her service-connected conditions rendered her incapable of participating in any substantially gainful employment.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, but no higher.,The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 40 percent, but no higher.
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