The Board denied the claims for increased ratings for left and right knee DJD based on instability, as well as lumbar spine DDD, due to insufficient evidence of moderate or severe instability.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show objective findings of instability in either knee between April 2004 until February 8, 2007, or from May 2013 to September 2019, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5257.
- Claimed conditions
- Left knee degenerative joint disease (DJD) based on instability, Right knee degenerative joint disease (DJD) based on instability, Lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 3, 2025
- Citation
- A25048779
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,902 · Granted: 11% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A25048779.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and restored the 40 percent disability rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), while denying a higher rating for migraine headaches and remanding the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) alone rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from August 19, 2019.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted initial ratings of 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and 20 percent each for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve. An effective date of January 19, 2013, was also granted for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Granted
The Veteran's combination of service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder with PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome, and multiple orthopedic conditions, prevents him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. Effective January 23, 2019, he is granted a TDIU rating.
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