The Veteran's right knee DJD condition is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,For his left knee DJD condition prior to June 3, 2020, he was assigned a 10 percent rating. The Board also finds no basis for a higher rating in this case.,The Veteran's right knee post cartilage removal currently has a 10 percent rating, and the Board does not find any basis for a higher rating under these circumstances.,For his left knee post cartilage removal prior to June 3, 2020, he was assigned a 10 percent rating. The Board also finds no basis for a higher rating in this case.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right knee DJD condition has been rated based on limitation of motion and currently manifests as painful motion with full or near full range of motion (ROM).,Prior to June 3, 2020, the left knee DJD condition also manifested as painful motion with full or near full ROM. The Board finds no basis for a higher rating under these circumstances.,The Veteran's right knee post cartilage removal currently has a 10 percent rating and does not have any additional disabling symptomatology that would warrant a separate rating based on limitation of extension, lateral instability, or meniscal conditions.,For his left knee post cartilage removal prior to June 3, 2020, he was assigned a 10 percent rating. The Board finds no basis for a higher rating in this case.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), Left Knee DJD, Right Post Cartilage Removal, Left Post Cartilage Removal
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 22, 2021
- Citation
- 21009583
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 21009583.
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 service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing (SAH) or special home adaptation (SHA) grant due to his respiratory disability, which is presumed by the PACT Act. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a permanent and total disability resulting in anatomical loss of use of both hands, burns, or residuals of an inhalational injury.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee DJD limitation of extension is rated at 30 percent, and his right knee instability is rated at 20 percent from April 17, 2017. The higher rating for the instability was granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee DJD and instability prior to December 19, 2023, and on or after that date have been denied. The RO found the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 19, 2023, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter.
- Granted
The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 12, 2017 for the grant of service connection for right knee instability. The Veteran's claim was initially denied in August 2017 but new and material evidence was submitted within a year, leading to a separate rating for right knee instability.
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