The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, the minimum rating allowed by law for a non-compensable condition with associated painful motion and limited flexion.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation under any applicable diagnostic code due to its compensatory nature as per 38 C.F.R. § 4.59 and DC 5003, combined with the limited flexion during flare-ups.
- Claimed conditions
- Left knee chondromalacia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- October 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19181770
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for left knee chondromalacia but denied service connection for body arthritis and left lower extremity neuropathy. The claims for service connection for left hip/knee disability and right hip disability were remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for left and right seronegative inflammatory arthritis, and assigned ratings of 20% to 30% for right knee instability, and 10% for left knee instability. The claims for increased ratings for patellofemoral pain syndrome and chondromalacia were denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are rated as noncompensable, and a separate rating for limited flexion is granted. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU remain pending.
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