The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent for over a decade, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant an increase in rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's range of motion and stability issues are within normal limits or only slightly decreased, with no evidence of recurrent subluxation or instability. His pain is well-managed with current treatment options.
- Claimed conditions
- Right knee degenerative joint disease (DJD), History of patella injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 22, 2017
- Citation
- 1708799
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 1708799.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment after his last date of employment on March 30, 2018. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from March 31, 2018.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied a compensable disability rating for hypertension. Several issues related to increased ratings were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted service connection for insomnia, COPD, and right and left knee degenerative joint diseases. The claim for an earlier effective date for insomnia was denied, but a 50 percent rating was assigned for the entire period on appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that further remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to outstanding VA treatment records and issues with communication regarding his fiduciary.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.