The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for her residuals of fractured ribs with intermittent sternal pain and chondromalacia of the right knee, finding that the current evaluations did not adequately reflect the severity of these disabilities.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed no objective findings supporting a higher evaluation for the rib fractures or sternal pain. For the chondromalacia of the right knee, while there was some limitation in range of motion and pain during flare-ups, the examiner did not find any instability or other significant functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of fractured ribs with mild intermittent sternal pain, Chondromalacia of the right knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 18, 2005
- Citation
- 0504727
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 0504727.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, except that it granted a 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee prior to September 28, 2018, and a 20 percent rating from that date. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for instability of the left knee.
- Granted
The Board has granted an effective date of August 6, 2014 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to this date.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient information regarding the severity of his knee conditions during flare-ups.
- Denied
The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, with separate ratings of 10 percent for left knee instability. The appeal is denied as the criteria for higher ratings have not been met.
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