The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (right knee degenerative joint disease, right knee instability, left ankle fracture, and left ankle scar) are rated at a combined 40 percent prior to June 1, 2017. The Board finds that these conditions do not render the Veteran unemployable for substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities alone.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show or suggest that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to June 1, 2017.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee degenerative joint disease, right knee instability, left ankle fracture, left ankle scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 20, 2023
- Citation
- 23066964
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 23066964.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease, including secondary to a service-connected left knee disability, is granted. The condition was not related to military service and no aggravation by the service-connected left knee disability could be established.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeal as to the issues of entitlement to increased disability ratings for left foot metatarsalgia, tinnitus, left wrist disability, right foot plantar warts, and for service connection for right foot plantar warts at a September 2024 hearing. Service connection was granted for migraines.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to April 17, 2019, for the grants of service connection for right knee instability, right knee tendonitis, and right femur fracture are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee instability associated with degenerative arthritis is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee limitation of motion associated with tendonitis with degenerative arthritis is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's left ankle scar is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that the evidence does not support a compensable rating.,The Veteran's left ankle fracture with osteoarthritis and tendinitis is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board has remanded this issue for further development.
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