The Veteran's left knee disability is characterized by a limitation of flexion to 90 degrees and extension to 4 degrees, but no ankylosis or severe instability. A separate rating for extension limited to 15 degrees has been granted.,For the period since August 1, 2007, the Veteran's right knee disability is characterized by pain, swelling, and chronic symptoms such as effusion and occasional locking; however, subluxation or dislocation has not been shown. A rating in excess of 20 percent for this period has not been granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left knee disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on flexion alone due to lack of limitation of motion beyond 15 degrees, which is the minimum compensable rating under DC 5260. The separate rating for extension limited to 4 degrees has been granted.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Arthritis of the Left Knee, Right Knee Injury with Medial Meniscus Tear and Horizontal Tear
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 8, 2011
- Citation
- 1144857
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 1144857.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection and initial disability ratings for obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee to correct duty to assist errors.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, as well as left ankle strain.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for service connection and an initial compensable evaluation, finding that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss disability or sleep apnea related to service. The Veteran's hemorrhoids were found to be noncompensable.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found the records incomplete and remanded for several reasons, including obtaining updated private treatment records from the Veteran's ENT provider and VA treatment records. Additionally, a new examination is required to assess the severity of the Veteran's left knee disability due to inadequate previous examination.
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