The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected patellofemoral syndrome right knee disability is being remanded due to inadequate findings in previous VA examinations. The Veteran needs a new examination that addresses the current nature and severity of his condition, including flare-ups.
The deciding factor: The prior VA examinations were insufficient as they did not adequately address the Veteran's lay statements concerning his functional impairment during flare-ups and failed to assess the impairment caused during these periods.
- Claimed conditions
- patellofemoral syndrome right knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20060887
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 20060887.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's tinea pedis was found to affect less than five percent of his total body area and exposed areas, not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating. The knee conditions were remanded due to an inadequate pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned an effective date of March 20, 2020 for patellofemoral syndrome left knee, right knee limitation of flexion, and patellofemoral syndrome right knee. Other claims were denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing, special home adaptation grant, or financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain a substantially gainful occupation from October 20, 2009, to December 31, 2011, and from January 1, 2013, to October 1, 2019. The Board affords the Veteran the benefit of doubt in finding that his service-connected disabilities alone resulted in unemployability during these periods.
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