The Veteran's right knee internal derangement status post ACL reconstruction is rated at 20 percent for the entire period on appeal. The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s service-connected right knee disability has been rated based on its current manifestations, with no higher rating granted due to lack of severe instability or subluxation. The Board found that the Veteran's other service-connected conditions did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- Right knee internal derangement status post ACL reconstruction, Bilateral knee arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 25, 2020
- Citation
- 20014291
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 20014291.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for eligibility in the PCAFC program due to insufficient evidence showing a need for personal care services, and thus denied the appeal.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's eligibility for enrollment in VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) due to her not requiring personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months based on an inability to perform one or more activities of daily living, a need for supervision or protection, or a need for regular or extensive instruction without which the ability to function in daily life would be seriously impaired.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of December 16, 2020 for both TDIU and DEA benefits. The Board found the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment since December 16, 2020.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for the Veteran's low back disability and service connection for bilateral knee arthritis, secondary to a low back disability.
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.