The Board granted ratings of 20 percent for dislocation of the medial meniscus, 30 percent for functional loss equivalent to favorable ankylosis, and 20 percent for lateral instability of the right knee. The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA were denied, but SMC based on housebound status was granted.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on evidence supporting dislocation of the medial meniscus with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint; functional loss equivalent to favorable ankylosis; and moderate instability. The denial of earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA was due to a lack of factual basis within one year prior to August 23, 2012.
- Claimed conditions
- Dislocation of the medial meniscus of the right knee, Functional loss equivalent to favorable ankylosis of the right knee, Lateral instability of the right knee, Left knee disability (related to service-connected right knee), Right leg quadricep muscle disability (related to service-connected right knee)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 25, 2024
- Citation
- 24032218
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,549 · Granted: 29% (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 24032218.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate examinations and outstanding private treatment records.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lateral instability of the right knee, effective February 7, 2021, is denied as he has not undergone surgical repair and his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective from April 7, 2017. The right and left knee disabilities are each rated at 20 percent effective from January 23, 2012 to August 3, 2016.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for back, left knee, and right knee braces in 2018 were denied as the braces are not used for service-connected disabilities.
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