The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further action, including service connection for a ruptured left quadriceps tendon. The initial ratings for left and right knee chondromalacia with osteoarthritis remain denied as they do not meet the criteria for increased ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not demonstrate limitation of motion meeting the criteria for an increased rating by either competent lay or medical evidence, and hence no increased rating is warranted. The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are currently rated based on painful motion under 38 C.F.R. § 4.59.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee chondromalacia with osteoarthritis, right knee chondromalacia with osteoarthritis, ruptured left quadriceps tendon
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 2, 2022
- Citation
- 22019698
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 22019698.
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 Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the loss of use of both lower extremities, necessitating the use of assistive devices such as braces, crutches, canes, rollators, and walkers. The Board has granted eligibility for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to this condition.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating.
- Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings and separate evaluations for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not establish entitlement to increased ratings prior to March 21, 2024.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for recurrent instability of the left knee from April 3, 2022, but denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee chondromalacia with osteoarthritis.
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