The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left knee disability was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for the period excluding the temporary total rating following surgery, and he has been granted a separate 20 percent rating for his meniscal tear.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's range of motion was limited to no less than 60 degrees with pain on examination. The Veteran had no limitation of extension, which precluded a higher rating under DC 5261. A separate 20 percent rating for his meniscal tear was granted based on reports of locking and effusion.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee fracture of the tibial plateau with degenerative joint disease (DJD), meniscal tear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 24, 2020
- Citation
- 20028937
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 20028937.
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 Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that it is neither secondary to his service-connected right femoral neuropathy nor directly related to his active-duty service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition, finding that there was no evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's rating from 100% to 30% for his right knee disability, effective December 1, 2015, and October 1, 2016, under Diagnostic Code 5055.
- Granted
The Veteran's reduction in evaluation for left knee instability from 10 percent to 0 percent was improper, and his prior 10 percent rating is restored. The Board also found that SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) should be granted starting May 13, 2024.
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