The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left knee disability prior to December 2, 2015 and 60 percent thereafter (excluding the temporary 100% rating from December 2, 2015 to February 1, 2017 for prosthetic replacement of the left knee) has been dismissed. The appeal for a higher rating for service-connected diffuse degenerative joint disease and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine is remanded. The appeal for an initial compensable rating for service-connected right knee disability is also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the left knee issue prior to the Board's decision being promulgated.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee joint strain, diffuse degenerative joint disease and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, right knee joint strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 21, 2018
- Citation
- 18128135
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 18128135.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left ankle, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee conditions have been denied. The highest schedular ratings available under the applicable rating criteria are already in place.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective October 22, 2019. The right knee disability remains at a 10 percent rating.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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.