The Veteran's left knee sprain is currently rated at 10 percent for instability, while his degenerative disc disease remains at a 20 percent rating. The right lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted a 20 percent rating throughout the appeal period, and the left lower extremity radiculopathy since May 18, 2017 is also rated at 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left knee sprain was found to have slight instability with motion no worse than 0 degrees of extension and 90 degrees of flexion during flare-ups or on use. His degenerative disc disease did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion, as it did not result in forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Knee Sprain, Degenerative Disc Disease (not specified which side)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 12, 2020
- Citation
- 20072931
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,836 · Granted: 31% (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 20072931.
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 left knee sprain with instability is granted a 30 percent rating, effective from December 17, 2007, to the present. From February 24, 2015, entitlement for left knee osteoarthritis is granted a separate 20 percent rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for increased evaluations of right and left knee sprain prior to September 14, 2015 due to an inadequate May 2013 VA examination report. The examiner did not provide a retrospective opinion on the functional limitation of the Veteran's knees during flare-ups.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the record, including missing service treatment records. The Veteran's conditions are being reviewed again with additional medical opinions based on all available information.
- Granted
The Veteran's knee and tibia disabilities were granted ratings, while his PTSD was granted an initial 70% rating. SMP benefits were dismissed.
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