The Veteran's right and left knee patellar tendonitis are rated at 10% each, but the Board denied any higher ratings as there was no evidence of ankylosis or impairment of the tibia/fibula. The knees were found to have normal flexion and extension.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found that the Veteran's knee disabilities did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes due to lack of ankylosis, impairment of the tibia or fibula, or meniscal injury.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee patellar tendonitis, left knee patellar tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20045594
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20045594.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's right knee patellar tendonitis resulted in painful motion, but flexion was not limited to less than 30 degrees. The Board denied an increased rating and granted TDIU.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's bilateral knee and wrist disabilities were initially granted service connection with noncompensable ratings effective April 29, 2016. The Board has granted earlier effective dates of April 29, 2016 for the 10 percent ratings assigned for each disability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA opinions are inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to clarify the current diagnosis of the Veteran's left knee disability, assess whether it would be less severe without service-connected PTSD, and determine if obesity is aggravated by PTSD.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's initial and increased evaluations for knee conditions, including patellar tendonitis, MCL sprain and meniscal tear, and meniscal tear, were denied. Separate evaluations for right and left knee instability were granted.
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