The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 40% disability rating for chondromalacia patellae, left knee, as the increase in disability occurred after the claim was filed.
The deciding factor: The increase in disability did not occur within one year prior to the June 25, 2013 claim and therefore cannot be assigned an earlier effective date.
- Claimed conditions
- Chondromalacia patellae
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 2, 2019
- Citation
- 19100291
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,990 · Granted: 35% (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 19100291.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's knee disabilities were increased in rating, and the appellant is eligible for attorney fees of up to 20% of past-due benefits awarded.
- Granted
The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 30 percent since November 4, 2022. A separate rating of 10 percent for shortening of the left lower extremity was granted. The issue of TDIU is moot.
- Denied
The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated as 10 percent prior to November 20, 2020 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. The Board finds no basis for a higher rating under either the pre-amended or amended criteria.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, with no higher rating granted.
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