The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10% each. The RO has denied the initial rating claims for closed fractures of the right calcaneus (right foot) and left heel (left foot). The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a back disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's knee conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes. The RO denied initial compensable ratings for closed fractures of the right calcaneus and left heel, as there is no evidence of instability or other disabling symptoms that would warrant such ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Degenerative Joint Disease, Left Knee Degenerative Joint Disease, Closed Fracture, Right Calcaneus (Right Foot), Closed Fracture, Left Heel (Left Foot)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 16, 2021
- Citation
- 21015013
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 21015013.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 40 percent for limitation of extension, effective December 18, 2025. The Veteran also received separate ratings for instability and dislocation of semilunar cartilage.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are remanded due to inadequate examination.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease resulted in functional loss due to pain, instability, and required the use of a walker. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for this condition.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 0 percent, and he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran met the schedular requirements for a TDIU from July 27, 2007.
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