The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee disability, characterized as residuals of a meniscectomy and degenerative joint disease, warrants a 20 percent rating for the former condition and a separate 10 percent rating for the latter. The veteran is not entitled to higher ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5257 or 5260/5261.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not show recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, which would warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5257. The veteran's range of motion was found to be within normal limits for a knee with arthritis and painful motion, thus precluding a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260/5261.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee meniscectomy, left knee degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 30, 2002
- Citation
- 0210963
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 0210963.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his bilateral knee disabilities due to a need for an additional VA examination that addresses the level of functional impairment absent the beneficial effects of medication.
- Partly granted
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of service connection and denied increased ratings for various disabilities, but granted a separate rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy from October 20, 2020.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, bilateral achilles tendonitis, gout, diabetes mellitus, type 2 (DMII), obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depression. The Board denied increased ratings for right and left knee degenerative joint disease, separate ratings for instability of the knees, a separate rating for residuals of a right knee meniscectomy, and service connection for bilateral leg pain, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic sinus disability, respiratory disability due to exposure to asbestos, heart murmur, irregular heartbeat, and seizures.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and SMC based on loss of use of the bilateral lower extremities.
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