The Board has granted service connection for a right knee meniscal tear with chondromalacia and a popliteal cyst, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active duty in 2001 and are related to this period of service.
The deciding factor: The VA benefits system does not favor the opinion of a VA examiner over a private examiner. The March 2018 private orthopedic surgeon opinion correctly considered the credible lay statements of the Veteran and his Navy friend regarding the onset of his right knee symptoms, finding that these descriptions were generally consistent with medical knowledge of these conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee meniscal tear, chondromalacia, popliteal cyst
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20063443
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20063443.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for right knee disability, left knee arthritis, and bilateral knee instability. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent and credible lay evidence regarding the onset of symptoms in service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee conditions, including meniscal tear and osteoarthritis, are related to her service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, right knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee limitation of extension. The effective dates are April 15, 2015, January 30, 2015, and January 20, 2015 respectively.
- Whole decision: 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.
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