The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent from January 23, 2019. The right knee instability is granted an initial rating of 10 percent effective December 8, 2015. The right ankle disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. Bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis remains at 10 percent prior to November 30, 2020 and thereafter in excess of 50 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's low back disability meets the criteria for a 20 percent rating from January 23, 2019 due to muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait. The right knee instability is rated at 10 percent as it does not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on flexion limitation.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic low back strain with broad posterior eccentric left L5-S1 disc bulge, Broken right fibula with knee strain (right knee disability), Right ankle strain status post open reduction internal fixation (right ankle disability), Bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 17, 2022
- Citation
- 22057974
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 22057974.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted, but the effective dates are determined based on new evidence received after initial decisions. The Veteran is now rated at 100% for congestive heart failure with cardiomyopathy and hypertensive heart disease and arteriosclerotic heart disease as of September 6, 2023.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating higher than 30 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, granted service connection for adjustment disorder, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and other benefits due to insufficient evidence of disability severity beyond the current ratings.
- Partly granted
The Board granted the Veteran's appeal for service connection for radiculopathy of the femoral and sciatic nerves, but denied it for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis. Agent fees were awarded in part.
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