The Board has granted increased ratings for bilateral Achilles tendonitis of the ankles to 20 percent and denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bilateral Achilles tendonitis met the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5271, as he demonstrated marked limitation of motion. The right knee arthritis did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on flexion alone but was rated separately due to compensable extension limitation.
- Claimed conditions
- Achilles tendonitis, Patellofemoral syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19186307
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,451 · Granted: 22% (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 19186307.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating higher than 10 percent for Achilles tendonitis and degenerative arthritis of the right heel, stating that the condition does not result in marked limitation of motion.
- Partly granted
The Board has granted initial disability ratings of 10 percent for bilateral Achilles tendonitis prior to April 12, 2024. Beginning on that date, the Veteran's entitlement to a higher rating is in relative equipoise with the evidence supporting such.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.
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