The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her right knee disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show flexion limited to 60 degrees or extension limited to 5 degrees, which would warrant a separate noncompensable rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261. The Veteran's current limitation of flexion is at worst to 90 degrees with pain, but this does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5260. Extension has been consistently full (zero degrees), so she cannot be rated under Diagnostic Code 5261 either.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling based on painful motion, which aligns with the provisions of Diagnostic Code 5260. The evidence does not show flexion limited to 60 degrees or extension limited to 5 degrees, which would warrant a separate noncompensable rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261.
- Claimed conditions
- retropatellar pain syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral syndrome, left knee strain, right ankle collateral ligament sprain, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20066895
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 352 · Granted: 37% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20066895.
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: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to untimely filing of the appeal.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, shin splints of the right leg, and shin splints of the left leg are being remanded due to a failure to obtain VA examinations and medical nexus opinions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's initial evaluations for left knee strain, limitation of extension and flexion were both denied as the evidence did not show that his symptoms warranted a rating higher than 10 percent.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board cannot issue a decision on the merits as they have no jurisdiction.
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