The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective October 22, 2019. The right knee disability remains at a 10 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner determined that the Veteran’s most severe limitation of motion was forward flexion to 10 degrees with no ankylosis, which is consistent with a 40 percent rating under the General Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- diffuse degenerative joint disease and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, right knee joint strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20048286
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 20048286.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left ankle, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee conditions have been denied. The highest schedular ratings available under the applicable rating criteria are already in place.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left knee disability prior to December 2, 2015 and 60 percent thereafter (excluding the temporary 100% rating from December 2, 2015 to February 1, 2017 for prosthetic replacement of the left knee) has been dismissed. The appeal for a higher rating for service-connected diffuse degenerative joint disease and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine is remanded. The appeal for an initial compensable rating for service-connected right knee disability is also remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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