The veteran's left knee disability, characterized by chondromalacia and a tender scar, is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The RO has separated the disabilities for separate ratings based on different residuals of the same injury.
The deciding factor: The veteran does not meet the criteria for higher ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5260 (flexion) or 5261 (extension), due to pain limiting flexion but not exceeding 45 degrees, and no instability or subluxation noted in the examination reports.
- Claimed conditions
- Chondromalacia of the Left Knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- September 11, 2006
- Citation
- 0628798
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,435 · Granted: 22% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0628798.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Multiple Sclerosis and detached retina, prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 5, 2019.
- Denied
The Board denied initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for bilateral shoulder disabilities, lumbar strain, degenerative disc disease (cervical spine), chondromalacia of the left knee, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, and right ankle disability. The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant higher ratings based on limitation of motion.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.
- Granted
The Veteran's left thumb and knee disabilities are each rated at the minimum compensable level. The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent effective October 7, 2016.
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