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
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.
- 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 Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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