The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of service connection were denied. The left knee disability was rated at 10 percent, with no higher rating possible due to flexion limitation. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for instability. Service connection for right knee disorder and low back disorder could not be reopened based on the evidence.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims were denied as new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen service connection for right knee disorder and low back disorder, and his left knee disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), left knee, Lumbar laminectomy and discectomy with strain, to include radiculopathy and residuals (low back disorder)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 30, 2017
- Citation
- 1754903
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 1754903.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were denied. A separate rating of 20% was granted for the left knee semilunar cartilage dislocation starting from March 1, 2022.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for DJD, left knee prior to August 30, 2017, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter is denied as his condition does not warrant such evaluations based on limitation of flexion or extension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information provided by a previous VA examination, specifically regarding range of motion testing and functional loss during flare-ups. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee DJD is now pending.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her left knee disability was denied. The effective date of service connection for her DJD with painful motion of the left knee is set at October 30, 2003.
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