The Veteran's claims for increased ratings prior to August 28, 2018 were denied. From October 1, 2019, the claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for left knee status post total knee replacement was also denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes due to lack of significant functional loss or impairment from the Veteran's conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Left knee tendonitis, Chronic residuals following left total knee replacement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20081029
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and increased the ratings for left, right knee tendonitis, left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and ankle fracture, and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain to 20 percent effective June 30, 2020.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal for a TDIU is remanded to the Undersecretary for Benefits or the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration under 38 C.F.R. §4.16(b).
- Partly granted
The Board reopened the claim for service connection for a sleep disability (claimed as snoring due to respiratory issues and sleep apnea) but denied service connection for left knee tendonitis, right knee tendonitis, right ankle sprain, left wrist sprain, and right wrist sprain. The claims for increased ratings were remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to a need for updated VA examinations.
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