The Veteran's left total knee replacement is rated at 30 percent, but the Board found no evidence of chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness to warrant a higher rating. The claim for a higher rating was denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners did not find any chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness in the left knee that would justify a higher rating than the current 30 percent.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Total Knee Replacement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- July 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19153578
Veterans Law Judge
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 19153578.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's left total knee replacement with left knee arthritis and scar, status post left knee arthroscopy, are granted a disability rating of 60 percent effective February 28, 2025.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial evaluations for left total knee replacement, left knee limitation of flexion, and painful left knee scar are all denied. The maximum rating for left total knee replacement is granted.
- Granted
The Board has granted increased ratings of 60 percent for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, effective from the date of the decision. The issue of entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.
- Dismissed
The appeals for a temporary total disability rating and a higher disability rating for left total knee replacement have been dismissed because the AOJ's decision was not issued prior to the filing of the Notice of Disagreement.
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.