The Veteran's right knee DJD is rated at 10 percent, and the reduction of his migraine headaches rating to noncompensable was upheld. The lumbar spine DDD remains rated at 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA determined that the Veteran’s right knee DJD did not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability, as he had full extension and flexion to no less than 50 degrees with only one isolated finding of slight instability. The reduction in his migraine headaches rating was upheld due to lack of credible evidence supporting prostrating headaches occurring more frequently than once every two months.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 19, 2017
- Citation
- 1701449
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 1701449.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Granted
The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 12, 2017 for the grant of service connection for right knee instability. The Veteran's claim was initially denied in August 2017 but new and material evidence was submitted within a year, leading to a separate rating for right knee instability.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain but denied service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease (DJD). The Veteran's right knee strain is related to his in-service injury, while the DJD does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.
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