The Veteran's spine disability is denied as not service-connected. The effective dates for right knee arthritis and left knee total arthroplasty are denied as there is no legal basis to grant an earlier date. The rating for right knee arthritis prior to June 28, 2016 is denied. A 60% rating from August 1, 2017 to January 30, 2018 and since July 20, 2020 is granted for right knee total arthroplasty. Separate ratings of 10% are granted for right knee instability from March 17, 2016 to June 28, 2016 and left knee instability from March 17, 2016 to December 4, 2019. The Veteran's scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. TDIU is denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support service connection for the spine disability as secondary to service-connected disabilities and there is no legal basis to grant an earlier effective date for right knee arthritis and left knee total arthroplasty.
- Claimed conditions
- Spine Disability, Right Knee Arthritis, Left Knee Total Arthroplasty
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- April 29, 2021
- Citation
- 21025988
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 21025988.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating prior to August 12, 2013 was denied as his right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5003.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating from April 1, 2016 was denied as he is already receiving the maximum allowable disability rating of 60 percent for total right knee replacement.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for PTSD was not granted, and the claims for left foot neuropathy, right foot neuropathy, left knee arthroplasty and rheumatoid arthritis, and right knee arthritis were also denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee disability is found to have resulted from his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it is caused by his service-connected left knee disability.
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