The Veteran's increased rating claims for his left knee patellar tendonitis with instability and degenerative joint disease, as well as the left thigh disability (residuals of punji stick wound), were denied. The Veteran was granted a separate 10 percent rating for arthritis in the left knee effective August 3, 2017.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support higher ratings based on functional impairment or instability of the joints.
- Claimed conditions
- Left knee patellar tendonitis with instability, Left knee degenerative joint disease, Left thigh disability (residuals of punji stick wound)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20006593
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 Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis and IVDS of the lumbar spine is granted a 40 percent rating, while other claims for increased ratings are denied or remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development and readjudication due to non-compliance with previous remand instructions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right ankle disabilities but remanded the claims for other joint conditions due to insufficient evidence.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of July 21, 2017, for the assignment of a 50 percent disability rating for service-connected PTSD and denied higher ratings for right quadriceps disability and left knee degenerative joint disease.
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