The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and a separate rating for right knee instability, as well as remanded the issue of individual unemployability.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected scars or osteoarthritis, and there was no indication of instability that warranted a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Surgical Scar, Left Knee Surgical Scar, Left Knee Osteoarthritis, Left Knee Instability (Laxity of Medial and Lateral Collateral Ligaments), Right Knee Osteoarthritis and Meniscal Tear, Status Post Arthroscopy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 1, 2021
- Citation
- 21061399
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension and an earlier effective date of May 14, 2018, for radiculopathy right lower extremity. Other claims were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, but denied service connection for sinusitis. The Board also granted initial ratings of 20%, 30%, and 70% for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, respectively.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, as well as a TDIU.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a traumatic brain injury, and remanded claims for headaches, right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis due to deficiencies in the previous medical opinions.
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