The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his left knee disability, earlier effective dates for SMC based on housebound status and DEA benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code, and TDIU has been granted.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed that the veteran's service-connected left knee disability warranted a 60% rating as of June 10, 2005.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee total arthroplasty
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- December 23, 2008
- Citation
- 0844375
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 0844375.
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 left knee total arthroplasty resulted in intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain, or limitation. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted as there was no evidence of severe painful motion or weakness.
- Denied
The Board denied increased disability ratings for various conditions, including bilateral knee replacements and radiculopathies. The reduction of the 30 percent rating for cervical spine degenerative arthritis was also denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for right and left knee total arthroplasty to obtain additional medical evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's knee disabilities without considering the ameliorative effects of pain medication.
- Granted
The Board granted a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee total arthroplasty, finding that the chronic residuals more nearly approximated severe painful motion or weakness.
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