The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee chondromalacia. However, the case is remanded for further examination and consideration of initial disability ratings for right and left knee disabilities, as well as the nature and etiology of the Veteran's meniscal conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not provide a clear opinion regarding the relationship between the in-service knee injuries and the current bilateral knee chondromalacia. The Board found that there is a medical nexus between the in-service knee injuries and the current condition, but further examination is needed to determine if the meniscal pathology is related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral knee chondromalacia, degenerative joint disease (knees), meniscal conditions
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 30, 2019
- Citation
- 19133285
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted the Veteran's claims for annual clothing allowances for the 2021 calendar year for use of a bilateral knee brace, a back brace, and an elbow brace due to wear and tear on his clothing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral knee condition is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the previous November 2013 opinion.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service despite negative VA opinions. The decision affords the benefit of doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis and chondromalacia, as new and material evidence was received. The Veteran's current diagnoses are in equipoise with his in-service injuries, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.
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