The Veteran's right knee disability is granted service connection. The low back disability remains at a 40% rating, but the Veteran is granted a separate 10% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy effective March 27, 2008. Right lower extremity radiculopathy continues to be rated as 20%. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right knee disability was found to have its clinical onset during service and he has provided credible testimony regarding the continuity of symptomatology since service. His low back disability does not meet criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula due to lack of evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Patellofemoral Syndrome, Low Back Disability (Lumbar Spine)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 17, 2020
- Citation
- 20073470
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,934 · Granted: 41% (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 20073470.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and has remanded his claims for initial rating determinations due to the need for additional medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right knee disabilities have been rated based on the severity of his symptoms, including pain and instability. The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to make a determination regarding the appropriate disability ratings for these conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee disability, including patellofemoral syndrome and meniscal disorder, is rated at 30 percent effective December 4, 2018.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for eligibility to direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits granted in a July 2023 Board decision and effectuated in a January 2024 rating decision.
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