The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's lower back disability prior to January 8, 2020, and denied an increased rating from that date. The claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, left ankle, right ankle, stomach condition, and headache condition were remanded.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the evidence showing pain and flare-ups causing muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait prior to January 8, 2020, while from that date, the criteria for a higher rating were not met.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain (lower back disability), right knee disability, left knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, stomach condition, headache condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 17, 2024
- Citation
- 24002426
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for further development and consideration of evidence not previously considered.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right knee, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability but denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for his left knee disability prior to April 25, 2019.
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