An increased rating of 20 percent for the right knee instability disability from July 19, 2008 to October 28, 2010 is granted. The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a lower back disorder as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability and an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for the right knee limitation of flexion disability from August 22, 2007 are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's right knee instability disability more nearly approximated moderate instability warranting a 20% disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5257. The decision also noted that the VA examinations for the back disorder and the right knee limitation of flexion disability were inadequate, leading to their remand.
- Claimed conditions
- Right knee instability, Lower back disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19184859
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,200 · 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 19184859.
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 Veteran's right knee disability, including limitation of extension and flexion, instability, and meniscus condition, is now rated at 20 percent effective March 7, 2020.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee disability, including limitation of extension and flexion, instability, and meniscus condition, is now rated at 20 percent effective March 7, 2020.
- Granted
The Board has granted effective dates of June 17, 2010 for service connection and separate ratings for right knee instability and left knee instability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the aggravation of a preexisting right knee condition during service. The Veteran's right knee condition was noted prior to service, and the VA examiner concluded it did not worsen beyond its natural progression.
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