The Board has granted a 20% disability rating for the veteran's service-connected patellofemoral syndrome and degenerative changes in the right knee. The current medical findings do not warrant a higher evaluation under any applicable rating codes.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the veteran's right knee condition is manifested by some swelling, pain on flexion, effusion, and crepitus, but does not meet the criteria for more severe impairment or functional loss due to pain as required for a higher disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- patellofemoral syndrome, degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 13, 2003
- Citation
- 0304636
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 673 · Granted: 27% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0304636.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and an incomplete record of chiropractic care. The Veteran is requested to provide or authorize VA to obtain his treatment records from chiropractors, and an addendum opinion will be provided by a VA examiner.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a left knee strain with degenerative changes, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his left knee disability, finding that a current disability is related to an in-service injury and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on his lumbar spine disability, right leg radiculopathy, and scars are being remanded due to procedural errors. The VA will need to correct these issues before the claims can be reconsidered.
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