The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of compensable limitation of motion or other basis to warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not show compensable limitation of motion or any other basis to award a rating greater than 10 percent under DC 5003-5261, despite the Veteran's reported symptoms and lay statements.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Knee DJD (Arthritis), Meniscal Tear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- September 11, 2020
- Citation
- 20059970
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 20059970.
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 denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, tendinitis, and strain, status post arthroscopy with meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis (limitation of flexion), and awarded an initial compensable rating for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, tendinitis, and strain, status post arthroscopy with meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis (limitation of extension).
- Granted
The Veteran's left knee partial replacement surgery is rated at 30 percent from September 28, 2020, and no higher. The decision acknowledges the Veteran's pain but finds that his knee does not meet criteria for a higher rating due to lack of chronic residuals.
- Granted
The Board has granted a separate 20% rating for the right knee dislocated semi-lunar cartilage from August 27, 2007. The effective date is set at this date as it marks the earliest ascertainable date on which the symptoms warranting the rating first arose.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disability. The claim will be reconsidered with additional medical evaluations and consideration of all relevant evidence, including lay statements.
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