The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right knee arthritis, left knee and ankle arthritis, and hip injury are rated at 20 percent for the entire rating period.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s conditions meet the criteria for a 20 percent disability evaluation under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine (Diagnostic Code 5235-5242).
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, Right knee degenerative joint disease (status-post right knee arthroscopy), Left knee degenerative joint disease, Left ankle degenerative joint disease, Left hip and thigh injury, limitation of flexion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20066429
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus granting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding a positive nexus to the Veteran's active duty service.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis and IVDS of the lumbar spine is granted a 40 percent rating, while other claims for increased ratings are denied or remanded.
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