The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as the schedular criteria for TDIU were not met prior to April 1, 2015. The effective date of TDIU cannot be earlier than the effective date of service connection for the underlying disability or disabilities upon which the TDIU is based.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's combined rating did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU prior to April 1, 2015.
- Claimed conditions
- Right total knee replacement, Severe post traumatic osteoarthritis of the left knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 18, 2024
- Citation
- 24002676
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,035 · Granted: 30% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 24002676.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for lumbar strain, right knee scar, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee. However, a 60 percent evaluation was granted for the right total knee replacement effective July 24, 2018.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's left shoulder and knee conditions, but granted a 60 percent rating for his right total knee replacement. The Board also denied entitlement to TDIU.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities, including instability, and a TDIU due to an inadequate examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right total knee replacement, which is claimed as secondary to their service-connected right knee strain, needs further examination and opinion.
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.