The Veteran's left knee tricompartmental arthritis and instability have been rated at 10 percent prior to March 17, 2016. From September 10, 2010 to October 5, 2015, he was granted a separate 20 percent rating for his left knee instability. The Veteran's meniscus tear has been rated at 20 percent from September 10, 2010 to March 17, 2016. From October 5, 2015 to March 17, 2016, he was granted a separate 20 percent rating for his left knee instability. Since May 1, 2017, the Veteran has been granted a 60 percent rating for his left knee total knee arthroplasty.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected conditions have resulted in consistent findings of pain and instability that warrant separate compensable ratings based on Diagnostic Codes 5257 (instability) and 5260 (limitation of flexion).
- Claimed conditions
- Left Knee Meniscus Tear, Left Knee Tricompartmental Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- May 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19140392
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,316 · Granted: 43% (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 19140392.
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.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims and granted service connection for a left knee disability and low back disability, both found to be proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied, with the exception of a separate rating granted for a left knee meniscus tear and meniscectomy surgery. The appeal was also remanded for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's left knee disability, including a meniscectomy and arthritis, is rated at 10% under Diagnostic Codes 5259-5260. The Board has remanded the issues regarding secondary service connection for right hip and left hip disabilities as well as entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically the left and right meniscus tears, have been rated at 20 percent each since September 13, 2011. The ratings are based on their direct service connection without any presumption or secondary linkage to a previously service-connected condition.
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