The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis, instability, left knee meniscal tear, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis have been rated based on their severity. The Veteran has received separate ratings for his knee conditions and the thoracolumbar spine condition.,The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for his thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis effective February 8, 2017.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support higher ratings for any of the service-connected conditions as they do not meet the criteria outlined in the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Degenerative Arthritis, Right Knee Meniscal Tear, Left Knee Meniscal Tear, Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Femoral Nerve, Cervical Spine Degenerative Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20060072
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20060072.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right knee meniscal tear, and IBS, have rendered him unable to secure or follow any substantially gainful employment from May 1, 2020 to May 1, 2021. The Board finds that the evidence is in balance, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted earlier effective dates for service connection of peripheral vestibular disorder with dizziness/vertigo, depressive disorder, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis all from July 4, 2023.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's disability ratings for right and left knee degenerative arthritis from 10 percent to 10 percent effective January 8, 2025.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has restored the prior ratings for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, but has remanded the issues of increased ratings due to an inadequate VA examination.
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