The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the assignment of a 40 percent disability rating for service-connected DJD of the lumbosacral spine at L5-S1, and awards of service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of the left and right knees based on limitation of flexion are denied.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is denied.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence showing an ascertainable increase in severity of either the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee or lumbosacral spine disabilities within one year prior to August 19, 2019, when she filed her intent to file a claim.,The Veteran did not submit any correspondence expressing an intent to claim increased ratings for her service-connected back and knee disabilities prior to August 19, 2019. There is also no evidence of ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to the date of filing.,Eligibility for DEA benefits was granted effective August 19, 2019, based on her permanent total service-connected disability status at that time.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the lumbosacral spine at L5-S1, Patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee with DJD based on limitation of flexion, Patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee with DJD based on limitation of flexion, Left lower extremity radiculopathy, Right lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 5, 2024
- Citation
- A24052800
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 A24052800.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted effective dates of July 10, 2024 for service connection for PTSD, lumbar strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Denied
The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was evaluated at a 20 percent rating, and the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the claims for psychiatric disability and sleep apnea.,Service connection was granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to a service-connected back disability, but denied for right wrist disability.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease prior to August 1, 2025 was denied as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to March 10, 2025 were denied as there is no neurological impairment associated with these conditions.
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