The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a 40 percent rating for left knee instability with osteoarthritis and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.
The deciding factor: The evidence failed to show a factually ascertainable increase in the severity of the Veteran's left knee disability within one year prior to July 28, 2023, and she does not have additional service-connected disabilities independently rated as at least 60 percent disabling until June 12, 2023.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee instability with osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel of the bilateral upper extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2025
- Citation
- A25108765
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 191 · Granted: 26% (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 A25108765.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40% rating for left knee instability with osteoarthritis is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a factually ascertainable increase in severity of her condition within one year prior to July 28, 2023.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for PTSD is granted and effective as of May 2, 2023. The Board found that the evidence showed total occupational and social impairment due to her PTSD.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for various disability ratings and TDIU due to the appellant's death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities, as well as his claims for service connection for hip conditions and TDIU prior to April 4, 2016, require additional development. The effective dates of the granted service connection will be determined based on the evidence received.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for erectile dysfunction is dismissed as he withdrew his claim during the July 2017 Board hearing.,The Veteran’s claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability, pulmonary sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea), and right lower extremity nerve disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing secondary service connection theories.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a pulmonary sleep disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing the relationship between his obesity and service-connected disabilities, and whether it was caused or aggravated by his psychiatric disability.,The Veteran’s claim of service connection for a right lower extremity nerve disability is remanded as there are conflicting diagnoses in the medical records regarding this condition.,The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, left knee instability with osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing his functional limitations during the period from August 11, 2011 to September 2012.,The Veteran's claim of increased rating for left lower extremity sciatic nerve disability is remanded as there are conflicting diagnoses in the medical records regarding this condition.,The Veteran’s claims of increased ratings for depression are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing his functional limitations during the period from August 11, 2011 to September 2012.
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