The Veteran's left knee replacement and postoperative DJD are currently rated at 60 percent, effective March 1, 2019. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for these conditions.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed painful motion and weakness in the left knee but no loss of function or use above or below the knee, which precluded an evaluation greater than 60 percent under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Total Knee Replacement (TKR), Postoperative Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- July 31, 2020
- Citation
- 20050959
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 20050959.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's left TKR disability is rated at 60 percent from February 10, 2014 to the present. Higher ratings are denied for the period prior to that date.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to conflicting opinions regarding the severity of her left TKR and its relationship with her IBM. The Board requests a medical opinion to differentiate between the residuals of the TKR and the impact of IBM on her left leg.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee arthritis is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left TKR disability. The current appeal period will remain unchanged.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for residuals of left TKR is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not show severe painful motion or weakness in the left knee, which would warrant a higher rating under DCs 5055, 5256, 5261, and 5262.
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