The Board denied a higher initial disability rating for left knee arthritis, finding that the evidence did not warrant such a rating and that the current 10% rating was appropriate.
The deciding factor: The VA examination showed limited flexion to 100 degrees and full extension at 0 degrees, which do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20004625
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and tinnitus. The increased evaluation claim for pes planus was denied, as was the increase in rating for the right wrist fracture. The reduction of the right wrist rating from 10 percent to 0 percent was found improper, restoring the 10 percent rating.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the claims for bilateral hand, hip, knee, and lumbosacral arthritis to provide further development.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for left knee arthritis and right knee arthritis based on new and relevant evidence.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a separate noncompensable rating for left knee arthritis based on limitation of extension from August 11, 2015 to June 18, 2020 and a 10 percent rating, but no higher, for the same condition from June 18, 2020 to January 6, 2021. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee arthritis from November 25, 2013 to January 6, 2021 was denied.
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