The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, granted a separate 10 percent rating for symptomatic removal of the semilunar cartilage of the left knee, and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
The deciding factor: The Veteran's knee conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings due to intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain, or limitation of motion; however, his removal of the semilunar cartilage was symptomatic. The Board found that the Veteran was rendered unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to multiple service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee status-post anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus repair, right knee status-post knee replacement, left knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative joint disease (DJD), symptomatic removal of the semilunar cartilage of the left knee, left knee status-post knee replacement, scars related to repair of the meniscus and ACL of the right knee, bilateral knee replacement scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 1, 2025
- Citation
- 25004312
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 749 · Granted: 28% (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 25004312.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted initial 10 percent evaluations for left knee instability and symptomatic removal of the semilunar cartilage, but denied a compensable evaluation for left knee strain status post meniscectomy with limitation of extension. The appeal was dismissed for an effective date prior to December 30, 2016.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected lumbar spine and left knee disabilities, as well as their functional impairment. The new examinations must consider the ameliorative effects of medication used to treat these conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his left knee disabilities was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent under DCs 5260 and 5261, or a separate compensable rating under DC 5261.
- Granted
The Veteran's appeal was granted, with a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability being awarded. The issue of an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome with DJD is dismissed.
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