The Board granted a 20 percent evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, effective from August 2001. The veteran's service-connected left knee instability was separately evaluated as 10 percent disabling.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no indication of subluxation or recurrent dislocation in the left knee and noted that the veteran had not worked since a back injury, but attributed his current disability to both the knee and back issues. The additional functional impairment due to pain was considered significant enough for a 20 percent evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Knee Instability, Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the Left Knee
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 1, 2006
- Citation
- 0615944
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,643 · Granted: 15% (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 0615944.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have been rated and denied for increased ratings, with some conditions receiving specific disability ratings. The Veteran is granted a 60% rating for her total right knee replacement from September 4, 2015 onwards, but the other claims are denied.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board will consider all submitted evidence, including any new evidence provided by the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's hypertension, left knee flexion limitation, and instability of the left knee are all rated at their maximum allowable under VA regulations. The right knee scar is not compensable. The Board has remanded for further examination to determine the severity of these conditions without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Granted
The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 40 percent for limitation of extension, effective December 18, 2025. The Veteran also received separate ratings for instability and dislocation of semilunar cartilage.
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