The Veteran's right knee was granted a 30 percent rating effective June 14, 2018. The left knee received a 40 percent rating effective the same date. Separate ratings of 20 percent were granted for symptomatic meniscus in both knees since April 21, 2012.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right and left knees have been found to be limited by extension to less than normal degrees, warranting separate ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5261. The symptoms of pain, instability, and locking were also considered in determining the appropriate disability rating for each knee.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Chondromalacia Patellae, Right Knee Arthritis, Left Knee Chondromalacia Patellae, Left Knee Arthritis, Symptomatic Meniscus of the Right Knee, Symptomatic Meniscus of the Left Knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- November 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19186212
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,088 · Granted: 33% (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 19186212.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating prior to August 12, 2013 was denied as his right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5003.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating from April 1, 2016 was denied as he is already receiving the maximum allowable disability rating of 60 percent for total right knee replacement.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease, and it is not etiologically related to a service-connected condition. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied.
- 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 claim for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for PTSD was not granted, and the claims for left foot neuropathy, right foot neuropathy, left knee arthroplasty and rheumatoid arthritis, and right knee arthritis were also denied.
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