The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left knee disability and right Achilles tendonitis, but granted a compensable rating for his left knee arthritis.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support higher ratings based on the severity of the veteran's left knee disability or right Achilles tendonitis. The VA examinations showed no ankylosis, severe subluxation or instability, and limitation of motion that would warrant a higher evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease, left knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- February 2, 2006
- Citation
- 0603058
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,242 · Granted: 26% (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 0603058.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for left knee instability is denied. The case is remanded for a determination on the rating claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there are errors in the decision-making process related to obtaining and considering certain medical records, conducting appropriate examinations, and providing a comprehensive assessment of the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded for these issues.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for sinusitis and remanded the claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder.
- Granted
The veteran is granted Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis from March 15, 2011 to October 23, 2019.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.