The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition has been reopened. A rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 26, 2021, for his lumbar spine condition is denied. A 20 percent rating for the lumbar spine condition from March 26, 2021, and a separate 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for GERD, panic disorder, and TDIU are remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence submitted since the September 2013 denial included VA treatment records showing current right knee condition and hearing testimony indicating the Veteran's right knee pain began during active duty service. This evidence related to unestablished facts necessary for service connection. The March 2021 VA examination showed forward flexion limited to 45 degrees, meeting criteria for a 20 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Condition, Thoracolumbar Strain with Degenerative Disc Disease (Lumbar Spine Condition), Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 1, 2022
- Citation
- 22061157
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 22061157.
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 Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee conditions, finding that the Veteran's current knee conditions are more likely than not related to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, without considering the ameliorative effects of any medication he uses.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted a 30 percent disability rating since November 29, 2021.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is likely due to his service-connected lumbar spine and radiculopathy conditions, with tramadol use possibly causing the condition by October 25, 2012. The effective date for ED will be remanded.,Due to the inextricably intertwined nature of the issues, including the need to determine if tramadol caused ED prior to August 30, 2013, the SMC issue is also remanded.
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