The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 25, 2017 and May 30, 2018 for left total knee replacement and right hip scar, respectively, are denied. The claim for extension of a temporary total rating beyond July 1, 2018 is also denied. A compensable rating for the right hip scar is not granted. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disability are also REMANDED.
The deciding factor: The effective dates for service connection were determined to be after the date of surgery due to lack of evidence showing entitlement prior to those dates.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Total Knee Replacement, Right Hip Scar (post-right hip replacement), Osteoarthritis of the Lumbar Spine with Spondylosis (claimed as a back condition)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2024
- Citation
- 24034367
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 24034367.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's left total knee replacement with left knee arthritis and scar, status post left knee arthroscopy, are granted a disability rating of 60 percent effective February 28, 2025.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial evaluations for left total knee replacement, left knee limitation of flexion, and painful left knee scar are all denied. The maximum rating for left total knee replacement is granted.
- Granted
The Board has granted increased ratings of 60 percent for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, effective from the date of the decision. The issue of entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.
- Dismissed
The appeals for a temporary total disability rating and a higher disability rating for left total knee replacement have been dismissed because the AOJ's decision was not issued prior to the filing of the Notice of Disagreement.
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