The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder, including diagnoses of left knee plica syndrome and patellofemoral pain syndrome, was caused by active service or service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and/or left foot pes planus. The examiner must provide opinions regarding these issues without relying on previous opinions.
The deciding factor: The Board found the May 2022 VA examination inadequate as it did not address whether the Veteran's current bilateral knee disorder was caused by active service or service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and/or left foot pes planus, nor did it reconcile any prior diagnoses of chronic pain.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral knee disorder, left knee plica syndrome, patellofemoral pain syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 13, 2022
- Citation
- 22051961
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 22051961.
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 has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disorder, gout, multiple painful joints, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability, including arthritis, is service connected as it had its onset during his active service and there is no clear and unmistakable error in previous decisions. The appeal for service connection is granted.
- 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee disabilities were granted effective April 4, 2023.
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.