The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain with arthritis, chondromalacia, and strain with limitation of extension was granted effective March 31, 2021. The initial rating assigned is 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA determined that the evidence supported granting service connection based on the Veteran's history and symptoms without relying on any presumption or secondary condition.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee patellofemoral pain with arthritis, chondromalacia, strain with limitation of extension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- January 29, 2026
- Citation
- A26008421
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 A26008421.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted a readjudication of the claim for service connection for right knee disorder. The claims for right leg shortening are remanded due to their inextricability with the right knee disorder claim.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial rating for left knee disability, characterized by painful motion but not ankylosis, flexion limited to 45 degrees or less, extension of 10 degrees or greater, instability, or subluxation, was denied as his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is not productive of actual or functional flexion limited to 30 degrees, extension limited to 10 degrees, lateral instability or recurrent subluxation, ankylosis, impairment of the tibia and fibula, dislocated semilunar cartilage, symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage, or genu recurvatum. Therefore, his claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent is denied.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating greater than 10 percent for right knee internal derangement, chondromalacia, and degenerative arthritis with painful motion, denied a compensable rating for the same condition with limited extension, but granted a 10 percent rating for right lateral knee instability.
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.