The Board granted a 30 percent rating for left knee instability with degenerative arthritis, while denying increased ratings for the left knee strain and lumbar spine disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left knee condition resulted in persistent instability requiring a prescription by a medical provider for a brace and cane, warranting a 30 percent rating under DC 5257. The other claims were denied due to insufficient evidence of more severe limitation of motion or instability.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee strain, status post fracture, left fibula, left knee instability with degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2025
- Citation
- 25006946
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,017 · Granted: 36% (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 25006946.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right ankle strain, as well as left and right knee instability with degenerative arthritis, on the basis of the bilateral factor.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee instability was granted at 20 percent. Claims for increased ratings for painful range of motion in the left knee and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine were denied. The veteran was granted a separate disability rating of 20 percent for radiculopathy in both lower extremities, effective March 8, 2022.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of the current ratings for the Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease and left knee strain, status post fracture, left fibula.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims of service connection for respiratory disability, left knee instability with degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis have been granted. The decision also remanded the claim for nosebleeds of the left nostril.
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.