The Veteran's left knee instability is rated at 20 percent effective June 6, 2024. The right knee disability remains rated at 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner diagnosed the Veteran with patellofemoral arthritis and tear of the lateral patellar retinaculum in his left knee, which resulted in instability requiring a prescription for a brace.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee patellofemoral arthritis with tear of the lateral patellar retinaculum, right knee patellofemoral syndrome (PFS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 20, 2026
- Citation
- A26004899
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26004899.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including spondylolisthesis or segmental instability (DJD spondylolisthesis L-5 S1), radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, paralysis of the ulnar nerve, acromioclavicular joint arthritis, left ankle tendonitis, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, bilateral feet with plantar fasciitis, fibromyalgia, pituitary macroadenoma, diabetes mellitus type II, and renal failure.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee conditions but granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability effective April 20, 2023.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a compensable disability rating for bilateral knee instability were denied. The Board found that the June 2020 decision, which granted service connection for bilateral knee instability as a complication of already-service-connected knee disabilities, is final.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to secure military personnel records.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.