The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20 percent rating for postoperative residuals of a left knee injury is denied as there is no evidence within the year prior to July 14, 2003 that his disability increased in severity.
The deciding factor: There was no medical evidence showing an increase in disability prior to July 14, 2003, which is one year after the veteran's claim for a higher rating. The effective date of the current rating must be based on the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase occurred.
- Claimed conditions
- postoperative residuals of a left knee injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 25, 2006
- Citation
- 0630134
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 0630134.
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.
- Granted
The veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for post-operative residuals of a left knee injury with instability, effective July 14, 2008.
- Denied
The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's post-operative residuals of a left knee injury, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for additional compensation related to arthritis or instability.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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