The Board has restored a 20% disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected left knee instability effective February 1, 2019. The reduction from 20% to zero percent was not proper due to lack of improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there had been no actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work, despite improvements noted by the VA examiner. The functional limitations caused by episodes of giving way, crepitus, edema, and chronic ACL insufficiency were not fully considered.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee instability, left knee degenerative arthritis, chronic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) insufficiency
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 24, 2023
- Citation
- 23057633
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 23057633.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The issues related to service connection for various conditions and disability ratings.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for right knee disability, left knee arthritis, and bilateral knee instability. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent and credible lay evidence regarding the onset of symptoms in service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis is dismissed. The claims for service connection for psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and other conditions are granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and shin splints due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA examination. The case is now pending with a request for a new opinion.
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