The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities, including associated scars, were denied. The Board found that the criteria for higher ratings under the old and new rating criteria did not meet the requirements.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on the limitations of motion and instability as per the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Total Replacement, Left Knee Total Replacement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 3, 2023
- Citation
- 23000084
Veterans Law Judge
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 23000084.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's residuals of right knee total replacement have been granted a maximum schedular rating of 60 percent effective June 1, 2020. The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis has also been granted an increased rating to 60 percent effective June 1, 2020.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's left knee total replacement is granted an increased rating of 60 percent, but no higher. The extension of a temporary total evaluation based on severe post-operative residuals following left knee TKR is denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Major Depressive Disorder, Right Knee Total Replacement, Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine, and others, prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted his claim for TDIU.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's bilateral knee total replacements are granted with a maximum disability rating of 60 percent, effective November 9, 2021. The claims for right and left knee surgical scars were denied.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.