The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her left knee disability prior to March 20, 2017 is denied as she was already receiving the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Codes 5003 and 5258. The claim for a rating in excess of 100 percent from March 20, 2017 to May 1, 2018 is also denied due to the highest schedular rating being assigned. From May 1, 2018 onwards, the Veteran's left knee disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there are no chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness.
The deciding factor: The Veteran was already receiving the maximum schedular ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5003 and 5258 prior to March 20, 2017. The highest schedular rating available for her left knee disability was assigned from March 20, 2017 onwards.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Knee Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2024
- Citation
- 24000694
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 154 · Granted: 38% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
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 24000694.
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: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, and the Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of clear and unmistakable error in assigning an effective date of June 19, 2002.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records from Mays & Schnapp Pain Management and schedule the Veteran for additional medical examinations.
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