The Board denied initial disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain, left knee strain, and right knee strains (flexion and extension) based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for higher ratings.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran's range of motion in his back and knees was within normal limits even considering functional loss due to pain, fatigue, weakness, lack of endurance, or incoordination, or as a result of repetitive motion and/or flare-ups. There was no evidence of ankylosis or other factors that would warrant higher ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, left knee strain, right knee strain (limitation of flexion), right knee strain (limitation of extension)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 8, 2024
- Citation
- A24064253
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, right wrist strain, and TBI. The Veteran's PTSD rating was remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's low back injury occurred during a period of active duty for training (ADT) and continued therefrom.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including the failure to obtain relevant treatment records and provide adequate VA examinations.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right leg sciatica with radiculopathy pain and paresthesia, but denied increased ratings for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, left wrist limitation of motion with ganglion cyst, and service connection for headaches, unspecified. Several issues were remanded.
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