The Veteran's effective date for a 30 percent rating for his right knee total knee replacement is set at February 7, 2007. However, the Board found that an earlier effective date of September 19, 2006 (one year prior to the receipt of the claim) would be appropriate based on the fact that he had a prosthetic knee joint in place for one year.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right knee disability met the criteria for a minimum 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5055, as evidenced by his total knee replacement surgery performed in September 2005. The effective date was set at the earliest date of increase in disability (September 19, 2006) rather than February 7, 2007, when he filed a claim for increased compensation.
- Claimed conditions
- Osteoarthritis with recurrent synovitis, Right knee total knee replacement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- September 15, 2010
- Citation
- 1034683
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 1034683.
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
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The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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