The Veteran's right knee disability, including her total knee replacement from December 1, 2011, is rated at 60 percent. The decision also grants a separate 20 percent rating for dislocation of the semilunar cartilage prior to October 20, 2010 and denies increased ratings for instability and flexion.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right knee disability was found to meet criteria for a 60 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5055 due to chronic and severe symptoms from December 1, 2011. The decision also granted a separate 20 percent rating for dislocation of the semilunar cartilage prior to October 20, 2010.
- Claimed conditions
- Right knee chondromalacia, Meniscal tear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- January 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20001317
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 112 · Granted: 20% (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 20001317.
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 determined that the Veteran's right knee condition is etiologically related to service and grants service connection for this disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for further evaluation due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its onset and etiology.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his right knee disability from April 16, 2013 to March 15, 2016 was denied as the evidence did not show flexion limited to 30 degrees or more.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development and readjudication due to non-compliance with previous remand instructions.
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.