The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his left knee disability was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. The service connection claims for right knee and ankle disorders, as well as low back disorder, were also denied due to lack of competent evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected left knee disability or his period of active service.
The deciding factor: The veteran's left knee condition was evaluated based on its current status with a combined evaluation of 40 percent disabling; 30 percent for left knee disability and 10 percent for degenerative joint disease, left knee. The range of motion in the left knee did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under Diagnostic Codes 5260 or 5261. Therefore, no additional schedular rating was granted. For service connection claims, there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the veteran's current right knee and ankle disorders, as well as low back disorder, and his service-connected left knee disability or his period of active service.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Knee Disability, Degenerative Joint Disease of Left Knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 23, 2004
- Citation
- 0431008
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 0431008.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, and the Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.
- Denied
The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of clear and unmistakable error in assigning an effective date of June 19, 2002.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records from Mays & Schnapp Pain Management and schedule the Veteran for additional medical examinations.
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