The Veteran's service-connected back, neck, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings from August 16, 2018. The highest rating of 40 percent has been granted for thoracolumbar strain with degenerative disc disease.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptomatology during flare-ups resulted in forward flexion limited to 25 degrees, which corresponds to a 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar strain with degenerative disc disease (back disability), Cervical strain with degenerative disc disease (neck disability), Left shoulder strain with degenerative disc disease (left shoulder disability), Right knee injury, status-post anterior cruciate ligament repair, Left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (left knee disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- May 28, 2024
- Citation
- A24027564
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 A24027564.
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 psychiatric disability is rated at a higher initial rating of 70 percent, effective from September 30, 2015 to May 10, 2023. The lumbar spine disability and left knee disability are denied for the respective periods, while the left foot disability receives a higher initial rating of 20 percent.
- Denied
The Board granted an effective date of October 29, 2016, for the award of a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder with panic disorder but denied earlier effective dates and service connection for other conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for Graves' disease as secondary to PTSD and increased evaluations for right and left knee disabilities due to lack of compliance with prior remand directives.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder, along with other service-connected conditions, has resulted in a 70 percent disability rating since September 2, 2016. The Board also granted TDIU based on the Veteran's inability to maintain substantial gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.
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