The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for arthritis and instability of the knees.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed no objective evidence of instability or limitation of motion, which precluded separate compensable evaluations under Diagnostic Codes 5257 (instability) and 5260/5261 (limitation of flexion).
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral knee arthritis, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) with degenerative arthritis, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) with degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 23, 2018
- Citation
- 1804360
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 1804360.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an increased rating for thoracolumbar strain but granted a compensable rating for GERD, and denied service connection for left knee strain and bilateral knee arthritis.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to June 24, 2014, as the evidence demonstrated that he was able to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation despite service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral cataracts, melanoma, and bilateral knee arthritis based on the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during his service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied it for bilateral hearing loss, a back disability, asthma, hypertension, bilateral pes planus, bilateral knee arthritis, bilateral elbow arthritis, erectile dysfunction, and kidney disease.
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.