The Veteran's left knee disabilities are appropriately rated, and the criteria for increased ratings are not met.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a higher rating as the current evaluations adequately encompass functional loss due to pain and other symptoms reported by the Veteran. The disability picture more closely approximates the criteria required for the currently assigned ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- post operative meniscectomy, left knee, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, with limitation of motion, limitation in flexion of the left knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 23, 2009
- Citation
- 0906574
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's service-connected left knee and right shoulder disabilities, along with compensation benefits awarded under 38 USC § 1151 for a right bicep detachment during shoulder surgery, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from December 22, 2011 to December 11, 2016.
- Partly granted
The Board denied several claims for increased ratings and service connection, but granted service connection for prostate cancer.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for various conditions, including left eye condition, right eye condition, hypertension, left knee, right knee, obstructive sleep apnea, and coronary artery disease (CAD), as well as denied an earlier effective date for CAD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee and ankle disabilities due to incomplete VA examinations.
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.