The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and temporary total evaluations due to his left knee disability were denied. The appeal is based on a direct service connection without any presumption or secondary theory.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support the need for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes, nor did it establish sufficient convalescence following surgery.
- Claimed conditions
- Left tibia shaft fracture, Dislocated semilunar cartilage
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19138437
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,329 · Granted: 31% (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 19138437.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to separate compensable evaluations for dislocated semilunar cartilage and residual effects of the right knee, as well as the claim for service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's right knee conditions are being reviewed due to incomplete medical records from previous examinations.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right knee disability, including effusion and instability, is rated at a 20% since March 2, 2012. The appeal for higher ratings or TDIU prior to April 2018 has been denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's initial request for a higher rating for his right knee meniscal tear with partial ACL injury was denied. A separate 20 percent rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage prior to November 18, 2009, and a separate 10 percent rating for right knee meniscectomy from May 15, 2012, were granted.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted a 20 percent initial rating for postoperative residuals of medial meniscal tear of the right knee and a 30 percent rating for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability from November 10, 2010. He is also granted a staged rating under Diagnostic Code 5261 for limited extension of the right knee.
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