The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim. The initial rating for left knee retropatellar pain syndrome prior to April 22, 2023 is denied. A separate 20 percent rating is granted for limitation of extension of the left knee. An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee retropatellar pain syndrome (limitation of flexion) from April 22, 2023 is denied but a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5260 is granted. The Veteran's right wrist strain disability remains at the maximum schedular rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased initial rating for his low back disability in November 2024, leading to its dismissal. For other issues, the evidence did not support higher ratings due to lack of findings of flexion or extension limitations as required by diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- status post thoracic spine compression fracture, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left knee retropatellar pain syndrome, right knee retropatellar pain syndrome, right wrist strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 24, 2026
- Citation
- 26002516
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 26002516.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, as there are insufficient medical opinions and records. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was denied, and his claims for right knee, left knee, right hand, left hand, GERD, neck disability, and bilateral hearing loss were also denied. The effective date of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted on December 14, 2022.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection of left knee condition, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left hip osteoarthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis is dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction over the August 2021 rating decision. Service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left hip osteoarthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis are granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left wrist fracture, bilateral hearing loss, Type II diabetes, bilateral glaucoma, OSA, cervical disc herniation, and other musculoskeletal issues are denied.,Service connection is not established for any of the claimed conditions.
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