The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and his lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that the Veteran’s left knee disability has been manifested by instability requiring a brace, meniscus tear, pain, fatigue, weakness, and lack of endurance causing functional loss. However, there is no evidence showing ankylosis, removal of semilunar cartilage, genu recurvatum, flexion limited to 45 degrees or less, or extension limited to 10 degrees or more.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee traumatic arthritis, status post tibial plateau fracture requiring a brace, limitation of extension, left knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 21, 2015
- Citation
- 1544969
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 1544969.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder tendonitis, cervical strain, chondromalacia patella right knee, lumbar degenerative disc disease with strain, episodes of locking left knee, left knee degenerative joint disease with patellofemoral pain syndrome and chondromalacia patella status-post surgery, and limitation of extension left knee, have rendered the Veteran unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since May 15, 2019.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and ratings for various conditions, including PTSD, based on the Veteran's intent to file a claim submitted in February 2023.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee osteoarthritis with instability, left knee tendinitis with painful flexion, and limitation of extension, left knee.
- Granted
The veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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