The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for DJD of the right knee, instability, and chondromalacia with a meniscal tear is granted. The current rating for DJD remains at 10 percent prior to May 11, 2017 and increases to 30 percent thereafter. A separate 20 percent rating is assigned for instability from March 31, 2009 onwards.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right knee disability warrants three separate evaluations: a rating for DJD with limited motion, a rating for instability, and a third separate rating for chondromalacia with a meniscal tear. The current ratings are based on the severity of symptoms such as pain, functional impairment, and range of motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the Right Knee, Right Knee Instability, Chondromalacia of the Right Knee with a Meniscal Tear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 31, 2020
- Citation
- 20081940
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,104 · Granted: 28% (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 20081940.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have been rated and denied for increased ratings, with some conditions receiving specific disability ratings. The Veteran is granted a 60% rating for her total right knee replacement from September 4, 2015 onwards, but the other claims are denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right knee strain (painful motion), and right knee instability are now rated at 30 percent effective August 16, 2017.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of representation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted a separate rating of 30 percent for right knee instability, but has remanded the issue of an increased rating for right knee disability due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to consider the effects of pain medication.
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