The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left and right knee instability, but denied compensable ratings for the limitation of extension in both knees. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed moderate instability in both knees without severe symptoms or surgical intervention, and painful motion limited to 5 degrees during flareups, which did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under Diagnostic Code 5261. However, the moderate instability warranted a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5257.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee osteoarthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome, limitation of extension, left knee osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, limitation of extension, left knee osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, instability, right knee osteoarthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome, instability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 1, 2025
- Citation
- A25030001
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran and his representative withdrew their appeals for the issues of revision of the February 2016 rating decisions, service connection claims, and evaluation for hypertension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a left knee disability, service connection for a neck disability, service connection for a right knee disability, and service connection for hypertension due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew his appeals for various ratings related to his right and left knee conditions, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine condition and denied increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right knee osteoarthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. However, it restored the 20 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain effective October 31, 2023.
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