The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee patellar chondromalacia, finding that the Veteran's current bilateral knee condition is related to his active duty service. Service connection was also granted for a back condition, but further development is needed as the June 2011 VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the claimed back condition is based on an inaccurate factual premise.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee conditions are related to his active duty service due to credible lay evidence and medical records showing treatment for knee problems during service. The back condition was not related to service, but further examination is needed as the examiner referenced the wrong separation examination report.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Patellar Chondromalacia, Left Knee Patellar Chondromalacia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 22, 2013
- Citation
- 1306293
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 1306293.
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.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions have not prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disorders pre-existed service or were aggravated by it. The case is now pending for further examination and opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, GERD, left knee patellar chondromalacia, and right knee patellar chondromalacia were remanded for further examination and rating considerations due to the length of time since his last examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied separate evaluations for left knee instability and right and left knee muscle injuries. The case is remanded to provide a new VA examination to assess the nature and severity of these conditions during the appeal period.
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.