The Veteran's right knee patellar tendonitis and left knee chondromalacia patella (post-surgery) are each rated at the maximum 40 percent under their respective diagnostic codes. The Board has not found additional factors warranting higher ratings.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not find evidence of instability or subluxation, which would have warranted a separate rating for limitation of flexion. The Veteran's knee disabilities are rated based on motion-based criteria and do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under DCs 5260 (limitation of flexion) or 5261 (limitation of extension).
- Claimed conditions
- Patellar tendonitis, Chondromalacia patella
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 9, 2021
- Citation
- A21018048
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 A21018048.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Granted
The Veteran's right and left knee patella tendon repairs, with painful motion, have been granted increased ratings of 20 percent each. The instability in both knees has also been rated at 10 percent.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's left knee disability, including patellofemoral pain syndrome and patellar tendonitis, has been rated at 10 percent since June 6, 2022. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's rating for his right knee disability from 40% to 10% effective October 1, 2019 was proper based on improvement in his ability to function under ordinary conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability was denied, and the claim for TDIU was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran's current level of functional impairment did not warrant a higher rating.
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