The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left knee scar is granted, recurrent sinusitis remains at a 10 percent rating, lumbar spine disorder receives a 40 percent rating, right wrist disorder maintains its 10 percent rating, and the Veteran is awarded an initial 20 percent rating from November 28, 2012 to February 22, 2018 for left knee status post arthroscopy with limited flexion.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations provided sufficient evidence to support a higher rating for the left knee condition, as the Veteran's range of motion was found to be limited by pain and functional loss during flare-ups. The lumbar spine disorder received a 40 percent rating due to lack of ankylosis, while right wrist disorder maintained its current 10 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee arthroscopy, recurrent sinusitis, lumbar laminectomy (previously lumbar strain with multilevel degenerative changes and disc space narrowing), right wrist post ORIF with bone graft and implant removal
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19101337
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,217 · Granted: 46% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19101337.
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.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the issue of entitlement to service connection for asthma as it was already granted in a previous rating decision. The issues of evaluating OSA with asthma, allergic rhinitis, and recurrent sinusitis are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating higher than 0 percent for recurrent sinusitis prior to August 11, 2024.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for rhinitis and recurrent sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his exposure to emissions and fuels during active duty.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the claim for service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to recurrent sinusitis. The Veteran's case will be reviewed again with new medical opinions.
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.