The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 15, 1997 to March 1, 2005.
The deciding factor: The Veteran was unable to engage in substantial gainful employment due to his service-connected left knee disability which significantly impacted his ability to work as a painter or pursue further education and training.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee degenerative joint disease with post-operative residuals, left knee surgical scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- February 20, 2026
- Citation
- 26002402
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 26002402.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's hypertension, left knee scar, and erectile dysfunction have been granted a 10 percent rating each. The effective date for these awards is January 1, 2025. An earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ is denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left knee chondromalacia with instability, status post total knee replacement was denied. A separate rating of 10 percent for painful left knee scar was granted.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted an effective date of August 12, 2011 for his entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since August 12, 2011.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective September 18, 2023. Effective that date, the Veteran also becomes eligible for DEA benefits and has an effective date of service connection for various conditions.
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