The Veteran's post-total right knee replacement is rated at 60 percent, his bilateral hearing loss and right knee surgical scar are not compensable, and he has a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability. The Veteran also received a 20 percent rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found the Veteran's post-total right knee replacement residuals to be severe painful motion or weakness, warranting a 60 percent rating under DC 5055. The Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss and right knee surgical scar did not meet the criteria for compensable ratings as per VA regulations. The Veteran received a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability.
- Claimed conditions
- Post total right knee replacement, Bilateral hearing loss, Right knee surgical scar, Left knee osteoarthritis and instability, Lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- November 24, 2020
- Citation
- 20075195
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 20075195.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals of the initial ratings for his service-connected chronic cough and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to procedural errors in the evidentiary record.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
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