The Board granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine and a 30 percent rating from November 17, 2015 to June 29, 2022 for patellofemoral tenosynovitis in the right knee. The Board also granted an additional disability rating of 10 percent for mild recurrent subluxation of both knees effective June 30, 2022.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the severity and frequency of the Veteran's symptoms as documented during examinations and medical records.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine, Patellofemoral tenosynovitis, right knee, Patellofemoral tenosynovitis, left knee, Mild recurrent subluxation of the right knee, Mild recurrent subluxation of the left knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 15, 2024
- Citation
- 24031739
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected left knee and right shoulder disabilities, along with compensation benefits awarded under 38 USC § 1151 for a right bicep detachment during shoulder surgery, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from December 22, 2011 to December 11, 2016.
- Denied
The appeal for an increased rating for left hip, the claims for entitlement to an earlier effective date and an increased rating for right knee strain, and the appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left shoulder strain were dismissed. The claim for a 40 percent rating from June 24, 2021 for degenerative disc disease was granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to a cervical spine disability due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for various conditions, including left eye condition, right eye condition, hypertension, left knee, right knee, obstructive sleep apnea, and coronary artery disease (CAD), as well as denied an earlier effective date for CAD.
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