The Veteran's service-connected left knee contusion and arthritis with painful limited motion are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted.,The Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU as his disabilities do not meet the criteria for such.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show any moderate or severe instability of the left knee, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5299-5257. The Veteran's range of motion is limited to flexion up to 60 degrees and extension to zero degrees with pain.,The Veteran’s service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for TDIU as he can still perform sedentary work, despite his knee limitations.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Knee Contusion, Left Knee Arthritis with painful limited motion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20006464
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,350 · Granted: 26% (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 20006464.
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 restoration of a 100% rating for PTSD and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate, effective October 1, 2021, while denying increased ratings for knee contusions and back strain.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other applicable diagnostic codes.
- Denied
The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected left knee contusion with DJD, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher disability rating based on limitation of motion.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left knee injury and set the effective date to August 2, 1956.
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.