The Board granted a combined 20 percent rating for degenerative joint disease of the knees, including consideration of separate ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5003 and 5257. The claim for service connection for a low back disability was also granted.
The deciding factor: The veteran's right knee disorder is manifested by subjective complaints of pain, swelling, and instability as well as objective evidence of fullness/puffiness, instability, deformity, positive drawer signs, arthralgia, and flexion reduced to 120 degrees. The left knee disorder is manifested by subjective complaints of pain with no objective evidence of edema, effusion, or tenderness and normal range of motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Knees, Low Back Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 11, 2003
- Citation
- 0319886
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 0319886.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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