The Board denied higher initial ratings for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities based on limitation of motion and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected psychiatric disorder with TBI effective October 5, 2010.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran's range of flexion or extension of either knee met the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Left knee arthritis, Right knee arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 7, 2025
- Citation
- 25008828
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for degenerative disc disease with scoliosis, right knee arthritis, and degenerative joint disease of the left knee with meniscal tear, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and VA treatment.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee instability, left knee arthritis, right shoulder strain, and residual scars to the right shoulder, index finger, and long finger.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a left foot disability (other than callosities) and a right hip disability, as well as increased ratings for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral foot disability prior to July 6, 2020, lumbar spine disability, right knee instability prior to October 2, 2019, and left knee instability. However, it denied increased ratings for the bilateral foot disability since July 26, 2020, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, and right knee instability since October 2, 2019.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board is remanding the matters for clarification from the private examiner as to whether a goniometer was used, and will defer further adjudication until such clarification is provided.
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