The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DJD, right knee and instability, right knee were denied as there is no evidence of more than slight instability or limitation of motion warranting a higher rating.
The deciding factor: There was no evidence of more than slight instability in the right knee, which is required for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5257. The Veteran's flexion and extension were within normal limits with consideration of pain and other functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), right knee, Instability, right knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19137865
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,287 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19137865.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at 20 percent effective April 1, 2020. The rating for limitation of extension remains noncompensable.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to inadequate examinations, including failure to account for flare-ups. The effective date of TDIU is also on appeal.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the right knee, finding that DJD was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not otherwise related to any incident of service.
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.