The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed some limitation of motion, pain, and weakness in both knees, but no additional functional loss or instability was found to justify a higher evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Total Knee Replacement with Postoperative Internal Derangement and Arthritis, Left Knee Strain with Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 4, 2002
- Citation
- 0217542
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 0217542.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted past due benefits for a temporary total evaluation of 100 percent for left knee arthroplasty, and an evaluation of 30 percent effective March 1, 2024. The decision also awarded Special Monthly Compensation based on housebound criteria from September 31, 2023, to March 1, 2024.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU from September 1, 2018.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and updated VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD, bilateral knee strain with arthritis, and lumbar strain.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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