The Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee was denied. The VA determined that the residuals from total right-knee replacement did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The VA found that the Veteran’s right knee had intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain or limitation of motion but no severe painful motion or unfavorable ankylosis, right-knee extension limited to 30 degrees, any impairment of the tibia and fibula, or scars meeting specific criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Total Right-Knee Replacement, Right Patellofemoral Syndrome with Degenerative Joint Disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- March 9, 2021
- Citation
- 21013249
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 21013249.
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 Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 60 percent for total right-knee replacement is granted effective December 1, 2016.
- Denied
The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are rated at 20 percent from March 6, 2018 to November 4, 2021. The Board found that the evidence was approximately equal regarding whether her knees were limited to 15 degrees of extension during this period.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected total right-knee replacement has been rated at 30 percent since January 6, 2006. Since February 15, 2012, he also receives a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.