The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee DJD, limitation of flexion, and impairment of the right knee were denied as his conditions did not warrant higher evaluations based on current medical evidence.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and treatment records showed that the Veteran had moderate DJD but limited range of motion in both extension and flexion. His instability was noted but not severe enough to meet criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5257. The symptoms did not warrant separate evaluations for 'locking,' pain, or effusion.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), Limitation of Right Knee Flexion, Impairment of the Right Knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20004413
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,548 · Granted: 31% (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 20004413.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee DJD limitation of extension is rated at 30 percent, and his right knee instability is rated at 20 percent from April 17, 2017. The higher rating for the instability was granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee DJD and instability prior to December 19, 2023, and on or after that date have been denied. The RO found the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 19, 2023, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter.
- Granted
The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 12, 2017 for the grant of service connection for right knee instability. The Veteran's claim was initially denied in August 2017 but new and material evidence was submitted within a year, leading to a separate rating for right knee instability.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain but denied service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease (DJD). The Veteran's right knee strain is related to his in-service injury, while the DJD does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.
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