The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to May 11, 2017 and from July 1, 2017. The appeal is denied for higher ratings.,For the period since July 1, 2017, the Veteran’s left knee disability has manifested with flexion limited to no worse than approximately 45 degrees. The appeal is denied for a rating higher than 10 percent based on limited flexion.,The extension of the temporary total rating for a left knee disability based on limited flexion from May 11, 2017 to June 30, 2017 was denied. The appeal is denied.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran’s left knee disability has manifested with extension limited to no worse than approximately 10 degrees. The appeal is denied for a rating higher than 10 percent based on limited extension.,The Veteran's recurrent subluxation or lateral instability was rated at 10 percent and characterized as slight. The appeal is denied.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence of ankylosis, severe postoperative residuals, or other objective clinical findings warranting a higher rating for the left knee disability based on limited flexion.,The Veteran's range of motion was improved with subsequent testing and there was no evidence of ankylosis. The appeal is denied for a rating higher than 10 percent based on limited flexion.,There is no evidence of severe postoperative residuals or other objective clinical findings warranting a higher rating for the left knee disability based on limited flexion. The extension of the temporary total rating was denied.,The Veteran's range of motion was improved with subsequent testing and there was no evidence of ankylosis. The appeal is denied for a rating higher than 10 percent based on limited extension.,There is no objective evidence of joint instability, and the Veteran’s recurrent subluxation or lateral instability was characterized as slight. The appeal is denied.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Knee Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 24, 2020
- Citation
- 20020985
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 20020985.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, and the Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.
- Denied
The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of clear and unmistakable error in assigning an effective date of June 19, 2002.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records from Mays & Schnapp Pain Management and schedule the Veteran for additional medical examinations.
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.