The Board granted restoration of the 20 percent disability rating for right knee instability, effective March 11, 2024, and an earlier effective date of May 24, 2021, for a TDIU rating. SMC aid and attendance was also granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show improvement in the Veteran's right knee instability under ordinary conditions of life and work, thus the reduction was improper. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment, and he needed regular aid and attendance due to his disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee instability, degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome with spinal stenosis, vertebral fracture and disc protrusion (back condition), right knee strain with osteoarthritis, limitation of flexion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 23, 2025
- Citation
- A25053905
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 749 · Granted: 28% (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 A25053905.
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's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeal as to the issues of entitlement to increased disability ratings for left foot metatarsalgia, tinnitus, left wrist disability, right foot plantar warts, and for service connection for right foot plantar warts at a September 2024 hearing. Service connection was granted for migraines.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to April 17, 2019, for the grants of service connection for right knee instability, right knee tendonitis, and right femur fracture are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee instability associated with degenerative arthritis is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee limitation of motion associated with tendonitis with degenerative arthritis is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the July 2024 fee decision is incomplete and does not properly identify the full issue at the center of the present appeal, including the specific amount of past-due benefits awarded and the amount withheld for fees. The case is therefore being remanded to provide a corrected fee decision.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no one has requested substitution for the Veteran.
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