The Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities, including her bilateral knee and lumbar spine conditions, have prevented her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment since April 10, 2017.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s service-connected disabilities, particularly her bilateral knee and low back conditions, have caused significant functional impairment that has rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- Left knee limitation of extension, Limitation of flexion (left knee), Right knee osteoarthritis, Lumbar spine disability with intervertebral disc syndrome, Radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- January 28, 2021
- Citation
- 21004763
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 21004763.
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 claim for a higher rating for right knee instability is granted, with a 30 percent rating. The claims for increased ratings for right knee osteoarthritis (flexion) and left hip strain, osteoarthritis and bursitis based on painful motion are denied. The claim for an increased rating for right ankle osteoarthritis is also denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examiner's opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities result in loss of use and if so, whether he requires aid and attendance without considering such disability/ies. The Veteran also needs to be considered for SMC R1 based on the need for regular aid and attendance.
- Granted
The July 2024 rating decision granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, with initial ratings of 10 percent each. The past-due benefits awarded are contested.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeal regarding the increased disability evaluation and earlier effective date for left knee limitation of extension.
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