The Veteran's right knee injury was denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to September 20, 2011 and granted a 20% rating as of that date. The Veteran's scleroderma with rheumatoid arthritis was initially denied but later granted a 60% rating effective September 23, 2011.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right knee injury did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5259-5260. The scleroderma with rheumatoid arthritis was initially denied but later granted a 60% rating as it met the criteria for separate ratings for each joint involved.
- Claimed conditions
- Postoperative residuals of right knee injury, Scleroderma with rheumatoid arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2013
- Citation
- 1326491
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 1326491.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Partly granted
The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 60% since February 1, 2015. The rating is for total right knee replacement and does not include subluxation or lateral instability.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hip disability and an increased rating for his postoperative residuals of right knee injury. The claim for hearing loss remains unresolved.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been evaluated based on their current manifestations. The right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, while the left knee instability is also rated at 10 percent.
- Whole decision: Denied
The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee and left rotator cuff disabilities were denied by the Board.
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