The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee disability warrants an initial evaluation of 20 percent, based on his symptoms and physical findings.
The deciding factor: The veteran's left knee disability is manifested by degenerative changes as confirmed by x-ray and MRI scan, with objective findings of swelling, effusion, crepitation, and painful motion. The range of motion was limited to 20 degrees flexion, with significant pain past that point.
- Claimed conditions
- Internal derangement of the left knee, Medial meniscus tear, Degenerative disease of the patellofemoral articulation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 22, 2003
- Citation
- 0301224
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,421 · Granted: 29% (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 0301224.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorders have rendered him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, thus granting SMC based on aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Denied
The Veteran's left knee disability, including internal derangement with osteoarthritis and posttraumatic arthritis, was rated at 10 percent prior to February 15, 2021. Since August 1, 2021, the Veteran has been rated at 60 percent for chronic residuals of a left knee replacement surgery. The appeal is denied as there is no evidence supporting a higher rating.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU was dismissed. The Board found that the left knee disability warranted a 30 percent rating prior to March 8, 2022.
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