The Board granted initial disability ratings of 30 percent for bilateral knee chondromalacia patella with limitation of flexion and separate disability ratings of 10 percent, but no higher, for bilateral knee instability. The claim for a compensable rating for right knee chondromalacia patella with limitation of extension was denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated the criteria required for a 30 percent rating under DC 5260 for flexion and a 10 percent rating under DC 5257 for instability, but did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for extension.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee chondromalacia patella with limitation of flexion, left knee chondromalacia patella with limitation of flexion, right knee instability, left knee instability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- April 14, 2025
- Citation
- A25034208
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for bilateral knee instability and denied service connection for right and left knee instability, finding no nexus between the Veteran's knee conditions and his service or service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and bilateral knee disorders due to the need for additional VA examinations.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an increased rating for right knee strain and instability but granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee limitation of extension from November 25, 2024.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left foot condition, right foot condition, cellulitis, right ear hearing loss, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal of the proposal to reduce a 40 percent evaluation for lumbosacral strain was dismissed.
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