Case 24013314: Back

DecisionVeterans-appeals decision document (court public records) · March 28, 2024 · Unknown

Outcome
Granted / Denied / Remanded
Decision Date
March 28, 2024
Judge
Unknown
Service Era
Not specified

Conditions Claimed

BackKneeAnkleTDIUEyeArthritis

What would this rating pay you? (2026 rates)

Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.

per month ·  per year, tax-free

Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.

2026 base rates, all ratings (veteran alone)
RatingMonthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA)
10%$180.42
20%$356.66
30%$552.47
40%$795.84
50%$1,132.90
60%$1,435.02
70%$1,808.45
80%$2,102.15
90%$2,362.30
100%$3,938.58
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Issues on Appeal

BackKneeAnkleTDIUEyeArthritis

Why It Was Decided This Way

For example, the JMPR noted that the Board failed to properly address whether a new examination of the left knee was required, whether the Veteran needed a period of total disability benefits for her recent knee surgery, and whether she only had slight knee instability, because the Board's decision failed to describe how the knee was rated as "slight.

For example, the JMPR noted that the Board failed to properly address the Veteran's statements about her instability prior to November 29, 2022, that for the period after November 29, 2022, the Board improperly relied only on an examination about knee instability, and that the Board failed to discuss favorable evidence from the November 29, 2022, VA examination reporting moderate subluxation in the left knee.

the DC related to the tibia as the Veteran's April 2019 knee surgery also related to her tibia; and failed to address whether the Veteran's condition in her left knee was at any point equivalent to functional ankylosis.

The prior decision also failed to consider the Veteran's arguments in anything but a cursory way that her October 2019 VA examination was inadequate to deny a higher rating as inconsistent, and failed to consider arguments that her functional loss and overall disability picture was much higher than her rating.

Therefore, giving the Veteran the benefit of the doubt, the Board grants the Veteran temporary total benefits from June 1, 2019, to until August 1, 2019, considering that she continued in a stage of recovery through at least part of this period.

While the Board finds the January 2015 VA examination is competent, credible, and highly relevant, it failed to address flares and repeated use over time.

No other duty to notify or duty to assist issues have been raised.

2016) (applying Scott to a duty to assist argument).

Authorities Cited

Ardison v. BrownCorreia v. McDickens v. McEsteban v. BrownFelden v. WestFenderson v. WestHart v. MansfieldLuca v. BrownMiddleton v. ShinsekiMitchell v. ShinsekiRodriguez v. PeakeSchafrath v. DerwinskiSee Acevedo v. ShinsekiSee Burton v. ShinsekiSee Gonzales v. WestSee Lynch v. McSee Melson v. DerwinskiSee Mitchell v. ShinsekiSee Scott v. McSee Timberlake v. GoberStefl v. Nicholson

Regulations Cited (38 CFR / 38 USC)

38 CFR 20.130338 CFR 3.10238 CFR 4.138 CFR 4.1438 CFR 4.2738 CFR 4.3038 CFR 4.30(a)38 CFR 4.30(a)(1)38 CFR 4.30(b)(1)38 CFR 4.30(b)(2)38 CFR 4.4038 CFR 4.4538 CFR 4.5938 CFR 4.738 CFR 4.71a38 USC 115538 USC 5107(b)38 USC 7104(a)

Denial Type

Credibility|Duty To Assist|Inadequate Exam

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Referral disclosure: VetAid earns a referral fee if you become a paying REE Medical client through this link — it helps keep this site free. REE Medical provides paid medical evidence; it is not a law firm, VSO, or claims agent, and VetAid has not independently verified its services. VSOs and VA-accredited representatives will help you file your claim at no cost, and no one can guarantee a rating increase.