The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling under DC 5299-5257 since August 1990. During the appeal, a 20 percent rating was granted for dislocation of semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of 'locking', pain, and effusion into the joint (DC 5258). A separate 10 percent rating is assigned for painful motion.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left knee disability manifested as a meniscus tear with frequent episodes of pain and locking, which most closely aligns with DC 5258. The clinical findings did not support instability or subluxation but did confirm the presence of a meniscal tear.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee femoropatellar arthrosis, meniscus tear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 30, 2020
- Citation
- 20007404
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,836 · 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 20007404.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition, including a meniscus tear, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current disability and his in-service injury.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including degenerative arthritis with meniscus and ligament injuries, is related to service. The decision grants service connection for this condition.
- Granted
The Board grants service connection for a left knee disability, including degenerative arthritis, chondromalacia, and meniscus tear, based on the evidence showing current diagnoses and continuous symptoms since service.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claim for service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease with meniscus tear and chondromalacia patella, finding that no new and relevant evidence was submitted since the last denial.
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