The Board has granted initial ratings of 20 percent for patellofemoral syndrome of the left and right knees, effective from December 2007. Service connection for a back strain was also established.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records showed an incident of knee dislocation during active military service in 1983, which is considered direct evidence for patellofemoral syndrome. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the initial ratings assigned by the RO and granted the requested increased ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Patellofemoral syndrome, Back strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 8, 2017
- Citation
- 1703835
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 1703835.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent for limitation of extension, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to limited evidence of additional functional loss.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's back conditions and his service. The examiner is asked to consider the Veteran's lay statements about in-service events, injuries, and symptoms.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that the VA examination and opinion were inadequate as they did not consider the Veteran's complete medical history. The case is now to be reviewed with an addendum VA opinion.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at a 40 percent evaluation, effective from the date of the May 2013 rating decision.
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