The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of limitation of motion equivalent to or more severe than flexion limited to 60 degrees or extension limited to 10 degrees.,For his left knee instability, the Veteran's symptoms are best approximated as moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, warranting a 20 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5257. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show flexion limited to 60 degrees or extension limited to 10 degrees, which would be required for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 5260.,The Veteran's symptoms of instability, swelling, buckling, hyperextension, popping and cracking are best approximated as moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.
- Claimed conditions
- Left knee osteoarthritis, Left quadricep atrophy and weakness, left L2 nerve root damage, residual excision schwannoma (claimed as left leg atrophy worsening)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- December 12, 2023
- Citation
- 23065679
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 23065679.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee and left knee, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to potential toxic exposure in service.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis rating was restored to 40%, and an effective date of July 26, 2013, for SMC based on need for aid and attendance was granted. The intermediate rate SMC effective date also aligns with this date.
- Denied
The January 17, 2013 rating decision denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that while the Veteran could not return to his previous employment as a plumber, he was capable of sedentary employment and therefore had not established clear and unmistakable error in denying his TDIU claim.
- Dismissed
The appeal is dismissed because the July 3, 2024, Rating Decision only proposed to combine ratings for bilateral shin splints and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran did not properly identify issues he was appealing.
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