The Board granted separate ratings of 20 percent for right knee meniscus tear and left knee meniscal fraying, while denying higher ratings for the service-connected bilateral knee degenerative arthritis.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right knee meniscal tear and left knee meniscal fraying more nearly approximate the criteria for frequent episodes of 'locking,' pain, and effusion into the joint, thus warranting a separate rating. However, his knee disabilities have been manifested by painful but noncompensable motion loss even when considering functional impairment during flares or with repetitive use, which does not meet the criteria for higher ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, right knee meniscus tear, left knee meniscal fraying
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 15, 2025
- Citation
- 25006627
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 denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis and granted a separate 20 percent rating for right knee instability.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left and right lower extremity radiculopathies, left and right hip pain, right knee degenerative arthritis, generalized anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and a rating of 30 percent for left knee joint instability, while remanding other issues.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and right knee osteoarthritis, but denied service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right hand degenerative arthritis, left hand degenerative arthritis, left shoulder subdeltoid bursitis (claimed as degenerative arthritis), right shoulder strain (claimed as degenerative arthritis), major depressive disorder, and an anxiety disorder.
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