The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and lumbar spine disability, but granted a 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis from April 4, 2017 to July 13, 2020.
The deciding factor: The instability in the Veteran's knees did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under DC 5257, and the limitation of flexion was consistently no worse than 90 degrees. However, the degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis manifested in muscle spasm severe enough to result in abnormal spinal contour.
- Claimed conditions
- osteoarthritis of the right knee, osteоarthritis of the left knee, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 29, 2025
- Citation
- 25013395
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