The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of an increased 40 percent rating for right knee degenerative arthritis with limitation of extension, as well as other related claims.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the criteria for a higher rating were met prior to October 17, 2023, even considering functional impairment factors.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee degenerative arthritis with limitation of extension, right knee total arthroplasty
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2025
- Citation
- A25035465
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.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted an additional month of a total disability rating for his right knee, concluding on November 1, 2024.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a higher rating of 30 percent for right shoulder arthritis effective February 1, 2024, and denied ratings higher than 20 percent for left shoulder arthritis, higher than 20 percent for degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease, higher than 10 percent for right knee limitation of flexion, higher than 10 percent for right knee instability, and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for right and left knee total arthroplasty to obtain additional medical evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's knee disabilities without considering the ameliorative effects of pain medication.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for dry mouth, allergies, and increased ratings for BPPV, chronic constipation, right hip degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative arthritis. The claims for erectile dysfunction, migraine headaches, and tailbone pain were remanded.
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