The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected left total knee replacement residuals from November 11, 2012 to November 27, 2018 was denied. The Board found that the criteria were not met and thus denied the request.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show ankylosis of the Veteran's left knee or limitation of extension of 30 degrees or more, which are required for higher ratings under DCs 5256 and 5261 respectively.
- Claimed conditions
- Torn lateral meniscus, Left total knee replacement residuals
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20069757
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,455 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20069757.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's torn lateral meniscus, degenerative joint disease, chondromalacia, and right knee status post ACL tear and osteotomy have been rated at 10 percent since January 31, 2011. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to limited flexion of the knee.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for an increase in his 10 percent rating for postoperative residuals of a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a torn lateral meniscus of the right knee is remanded due to inadequate VA examination.
- Granted
The Veteran's request for a higher disability rating for her right ankle disability is granted, and she is awarded TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. Her right knee disability remains remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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