The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's right knee disability and also denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran’s right knee disability warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent, nor was there sufficient combined disability ratings or other factors meeting the criteria for a TDIU.
- Claimed conditions
- Postoperative right knee injury with reconstruction, Degenerative joint disease (right knee), Left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20073830
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.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates of November 5, 2021, for the grants of service connection and eligibility for DEA benefits.
- Partly granted
The Board denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome but granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability. The claim for service connection for a back disorder was remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied higher disability ratings for the veteran's low back and lower extremity radiculopathies, pseudofolliculitis barbae, pes planus and plantar fasciitis, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and an initial 70 percent rating, but not higher, for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress. Other claims were denied or remanded.
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