The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder is granted. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for left and right knee disabilities are set at June 2, 2017. A rating in excess of 60 percent for a right knee disability is denied. Increased ratings for left knee disability prior to total knee replacement surgery are also denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims were granted based on the submission of new and material evidence since the previous denial, with effective dates set at the date of claim. The rating for the right knee was found to be appropriate given the maximum allowable schedular rating under both pre-amended and amended criteria. Increased ratings for left knee disability prior to total knee replacement surgery were denied due to lack of incapacitating episodes or other factors warranting higher ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical Spine Disorder, Left Knee Disability, Right Knee Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- June 22, 2022
- Citation
- 22035972
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 22035972.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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 knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, and the Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support an etiological relationship between his current condition and his military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of clear and unmistakable error in assigning an effective date of June 19, 2002.
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