The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for DJD of the left knee and left knee laxity was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating more than 10 percent for DJD prior to March 3, 2018 or for left knee laxity on and after March 3, 2018.
The deciding factor: The objective physical findings in the VA examinations did not show any evidence of recurrent subluxation or lateral instability until the March 3, 2018 VA examination. The Veteran's complaints of pain were not confirmed by objective treatment records and did not limit his functional range of motion to a compensable level.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the left knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- October 30, 2019
- Citation
- 19182211
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 Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected DJD of the left knee and left knee lateral instability, from December 15, 2009, to September 5, 2014.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter to obtain a new VA medical opinion regarding the severity of the left knee DJD without the ameliorative effects of medication during the limited appeal period.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for DJD and instability of both knees but granted separate 20 percent ratings for dislocated semilunar cartilage in the left and right knees.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbosacral spine prior to October 29, 2021, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 25, 2017.
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