The Board granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the left knee disability and a separate, initial rating of 10 percent for left knee instability, effective March 28, 2023.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left knee disability more nearly approximated flexion limited to 30 degrees but did not more nearly approximate flexion limited to 15 degrees or any other symptoms warranting a higher rating. The Veteran's left knee instability more nearly approximated persistent instability requiring the use of assistive devices for ambulation, but did not more nearly approximate moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability as shown by a ligament sprain, a partial or complete ligament tear, or a diagnosed condition involving the patellofemoral complex requiring surgical repair.
- Claimed conditions
- Left knee with chondromalacia of the patella status post ganglion cyst excision, Left knee instability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 2, 2025
- Citation
- A25030213
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome but granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability. The claim for service connection for a back disorder was remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left and right knee instability and limitation of flexion due to an inadequate VA examination.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease (DDD) with degenerative arthritis and retrolisthesis from February 16, 2021. Other claims were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for the left knee disability and instability, but granted a 100 percent rating from May 31, 2023, for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with bipolar I disorder.
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