The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for right and left knee disabilities from December 3, 2009 to April 30, 2014 and February 1, 2010 to March 5, 2012 and July 1, 2012 respectively, but a higher rating was denied for the entire increased rating period. A 20 percent rating was also granted for lumbar spine DDD from December 3, 2009 to February 22, 2018.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's knee and back disabilities met the criteria for a 20 percent disability rating based on symptoms such as joint locking, pain, and muscle spasm. However, no higher ratings were warranted under other diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Right knee disability, Left knee disability, Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 7, 2021
- Citation
- 21062551
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for chronic headaches, CFS, dermatosis, bilateral RLS, a lumbar spine disability, and sleep apnea but denied a compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the claims for an initial compensable rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss, service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, and a left eye disorder. However, it granted service connection for a back disability and radiculopathy of both lower extremities as secondary to the back disability.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability and PTSD, remanded several claims including those for a left knee disability, right shoulder disability, hypertension, craniomandibular disorder, and a compensable rating for residuals of a right femur fracture.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for various disabilities and granted earlier effective dates for service connection of scars, but denied an earlier effective date for individual unemployability.
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