The Board denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome with a torn medial meniscus, finding that her disability did not warrant such a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain or flare-ups.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and medical records showed no evidence of instability or subluxation, which would have warranted a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Codes 5257 or 5261. The veteran's symptoms were primarily related to pain during flexion greater than 90 degrees due to flare-ups.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee patellofemoral syndrome, torn medial meniscus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- August 15, 2003
- Citation
- 0320448
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 0320448.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a higher rating in excess of the current ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of December 6, 2005, for the award of a 10 percent rating for both the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities due to clear and unmistakable error in the prior decision. The back disability claim was denied.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, except for separate awards of service connection for left knee instability and right knee instability.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for service connection for right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent or an earlier effective date.
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