The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, which includes anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and partial lateral meniscectomy, warrants a 20 percent evaluation since October 1, 2002. The evidence does not support an increase in the rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examination report did not show any additional functional loss due to pain or other factors that would warrant a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5258.
- Claimed conditions
- anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, partial lateral meniscectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 7, 2006
- Citation
- 0603324
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,458 · Granted: 24% (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 0603324.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee instability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU has been denied due to his failure to provide the necessary information and VA forms.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for their right knee disability has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew the appeal.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested the withdrawal of his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the residuals of left knee arthroscopy and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction prior to January 7, 2013, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter.
- Granted
The Veteran's left knee DJD is found to be aggravated by the service-connected right knee disability, warranting service connection on a secondary basis. The issue of an increased rating for the right knee disability is remanded.
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.