The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating codes, except for a 40 percent rating being granted beginning February 11, 2016, for thoracolumbar spine DJD.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed limited range of motion in the Veteran's knees and wrist, but no ankylosis or other severe functional impairment. The criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes were not met.
- Claimed conditions
- Right knee chondromalacia patella, Left knee chondromalacia patella, Right wrist degenerative joint disease (DJD), Thoracolumbar spine DJD
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 28, 2019
- Citation
- 19114708
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,772 · Granted: 37% (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 19114708.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a denial of SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Board has granted an increased rating of 30 percent for right wrist degenerative joint disease, effective as of the date of the decision.
- Denied
The Board denied higher ratings for the veteran's left wrist and hand disabilities, as well as the effective dates for service connection, and also remanded claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee chondromalacia patella and subluxation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's disabilities and address reports of daily suicidal ideation.
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