The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right elbow disability was denied. The claims for increased ratings for left knee meniscectomy, DJD, limitation of extension, flexion, and instability were granted with effective dates as of June 26, 2015. The initial increased rating claim for right knee ligament tear was also granted but remains in appellate status.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no chronic right elbow disability during service or post-service, thus denying the claim. For left knee conditions, a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5258 (meniscal symptoms) was granted as of June 26, 2015. Separate ratings for limitation of extension, flexion, and laxity were not warranted due to the amputation rule. The right knee ligament tear claim remains pending.
- Claimed conditions
- Right elbow disability, Left knee meniscectomy, Left knee DJD (degenerative joint disease), Left knee limitation of extension, Left knee limitation of flexion, Left knee instability, Right knee degenerative joint disease (DJD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 12, 2022
- Citation
- 22051938
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 22051938.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right elbow disability and a nasal disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and service connection for a right elbow disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current disabilities related to these conditions.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for right elbow, left elbow, right wrist, and left wrist disabilities as there is no current evidence of these conditions.
- Granted
The Board has granted effective dates of June 17, 2010 for service connection and separate ratings for right knee instability and left knee instability.
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