The Board granted service connection for a sternum condition and increased initial ratings of 20 percent for limited flexion of the right and left knees, effective July 19, 2022.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's sternum pain is directly related to his active-duty service, and he has shown that his knee conditions are manifested by flexion limited to 30 degrees after repeated use over time during flare-ups, which warrants a 20 percent rating under DC 5260.
- Claimed conditions
- sternum condition, limited flexion of the right knee, limited flexion of the left knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 1, 2025
- Citation
- A25056848
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted restoration of the 20 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected limitation of extension of the left knee, effective August 17, 2023. The other claims were denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the increased rating claims for service-connected disabilities of both knees to ensure compliance with its previous remand instructions.
- Partly granted
The veteran was granted a 10% rating for painful extension of both knees effective February 14, 2022. Other claims were denied or remanded.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claim for an increased rating greater than 10 percent for limited flexion and extension of both knees from October 20, 2015 to March 12, 2017 was denied. However, the veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for limitation of flexion and extension of both knees from March 13, 2017 to March 27, 2024. The claim for an increased rating greater than 20 percent beginning March 28, 2024 was remanded.
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