The Veteran's service-connected chondromalacia with mild arthritis of the left patellofemoral joint was granted an increased rating to 20 percent, effective from when the disability was initially service connected in July 1984.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s symptoms, including pain and decreased range of motion, were consistent with a diagnosis of chondromalacia and mild arthritis, warranting a 20% rating under Diagnostic Code 5260-5010 for limitation of leg flexion due to arthritis.
- Claimed conditions
- Chondromalacia, Mild arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19101490
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,828 · Granted: 32% (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 19101490.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically whether it is directly related to service. The Veteran was provided a VA examination but did not receive an opinion on this issue.
- Denied
The Veteran's left knee bursitis with chondromalacia is currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating as there are no additional functional limitations or symptoms that warrant such an increase.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased disability ratings of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease with chondromalacia of both knees.,The criteria for a 20 percent disability rating, which requires flexion limited to 30 degrees, were not met prior to March 11, 2020.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling new VA examinations.
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