The Board has restored a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected right total knee arthroplasty, effective April 1, 2021, as the evidence did not show material improvement in the disability.
The deciding factor: The reduction to 30 percent was based on an inadequate VA examination that failed to consider additional functional loss due to flare-ups and pain. The Board found actual improvement with the Veteran's consistent reports of chronic knee pain rated at 8/10, warranting a 60 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Total Knee Arthroplasty
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- February 26, 2026
- Citation
- A26017461
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 A26017461.
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
Effective September 1, 2019, the Veteran is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for an effective date earlier than May 1, 2020 for the assignment of a 60 percent disability rating for the service-connected right total knee arthroplasty and for the grant of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU). The remand is due to issues with the adequacy of the January 2020 VA examination.
- Granted
The Board has granted increased ratings of 60 percent for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, effective from the date of the decision. The issue of entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's right total knee arthroplasty, residual of right femur fracture, status postoperative medial meniscectomy with chondromalacia and degenerative joint disease is granted a 60 percent evaluation effective March 1, 2013.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.