The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee and shoulder disabilities were granted, but the assigned ratings of 10 percent for left knee disability, zero percent for right knee sprain, and zero percent for bilateral shoulder sprain are found to be appropriate based on the current evidence.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is manifested by slight recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, which corresponds to a 10 percent rating under DC 5257. The right knee sprain and bilateral shoulder sprain are each currently rated as zero percent disabling (non-compensable) due to almost full range of motion in the knees and no evidence of impairment in either shoulder.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Left Knee, Right Knee Sprain, Bilateral Shoulder Sprain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 1, 2010
- Citation
- 1007472
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1007472.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for right knee disability was denied. The Board found that the June 2013 rating decision did not contain CUE in failing to assign separate evaluations for instability and swelling.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's left knee instability and limitation of extension associated with degenerative joint disease are rated at 20 percent from June 14, 2010 to January 11, 2016.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased initial disability rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left knee is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports. The Board finds that additional evidence and a new medical opinion are needed to properly assess the severity of the Veteran's condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The case is remanded due to insufficient information regarding the severity of the Veteran's left knee recurrent subluxation at the December 2022 VA examination, and further development is needed.
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