The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, reflecting slight impairment due to pain upon repetitive use and subjective complaints of instability.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations consistently noted the presence of painful motion and tenderness with palpation of the patellar ligaments, which is indicative of chondromalacia patella. The Veteran's symptoms included constant daily knee pain, weakness, stiffness, swelling, and occasional instability or giving way, leading to a 10 percent rating under DCs 5260 and 5261.
- Claimed conditions
- Chondromalacia Patella
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- February 23, 2011
- Citation
- 1107245
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 1107245.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and Chondromalacia Patella was reopened on May 23, 2011. A VA mental disorders examination confirmed the diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and assigned a 50 percent disability rating effective from May 23, 2011.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right knee disability is not rated higher than 10 percent due to limited flexion. The claim for increased rating remains pending and will be remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia patella is rated at 20 percent, effective September 18, 2023, for instability. The rating is granted based on the current evidence of moderate instability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for right knee instability since August 15, 2019. The issue of a higher rating for chondromalacia patella of the right knee is remanded due to incomplete records.
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