The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The initial rating for right knee ACL repair and DJD was not granted, while the initial schedular rating for right knee replacement was granted but at a reduced level.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not find any instability or subluxation in the right knee, which is required for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes. The left shoulder disability was found to be limited to above shoulder level motion, precluding more severe ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Repair, Right Knee Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), Left Shoulder Injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2015
- Citation
- 1521970
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 1521970.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in verifying the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), obtaining complete service treatment records, and scheduling a VA examination. The AOJ is required to correct these issues.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee DJD limitation of extension is rated at 30 percent, and his right knee instability is rated at 20 percent from April 17, 2017. The higher rating for the instability was granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for residuals of injury to the left shoulder and remanded the issue of service connection for residuals of injury to the left knee. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee DJD and instability prior to December 19, 2023, and on or after that date have been denied. The RO found the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 19, 2023, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter.
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