The Veteran's initial ratings for various knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as his headache disability, have been granted. The right knee disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to February 1, 2012, then upgraded to 30 percent since April 1, 2013 due to the need for a total knee replacement. For the left knee, he received a 30 percent rating from July 29, 2019 onwards, with limitations on extension and flexion. The right shoulder disability was initially rated at 20 percent prior to July 29, 2019, then upgraded to 40 percent since that date. For the left shoulder, he received a 30 percent rating from August 22, 2019 onwards. His headaches were initially denied but granted with a 30 percent rating starting February 15, 2018.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's disabilities were rated based on their current functional limitations and the need for treatment or surgery.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Disability, Left Knee Disability, Headache Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- August 24, 2020
- Citation
- 20055916
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 20055916.
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 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 Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support an etiological relationship between his current condition and his military service.
- 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.
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