The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome (PFS) due to unclear medical findings regarding flare-ups and instability.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners did not adequately address whether either knee had additional functional loss due to flare-ups or had instability during the appeal period, as required by the holding in Sharp v. Shulkin.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Patellofemoral Syndrome (PFS), Left Knee Patellofemoral Syndrome (PFS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 18, 2022
- Citation
- 22058217
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 22058217.
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 service-connected psychiatric disorder did not cause or aggravate his cannabis use disorder.,For the period prior to June 13, 2015, the Veteran's left knee flexion was not limited to 30 degrees throughout the course of the appeal. Since June 13, 2015, the Veteran's left ankle has not exhibited ankylosis.,The Veteran's psychiatric disorder did not cause or aggravate his cannabis use disorder.
- Granted
The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for right and left knee PFS prior to April 1, 2022, based on limitation of extension. A higher rating is not warranted at any time.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic sinusitis, right knee PFS, and left knee PFS. The case is remanded to obtain addendum opinions regarding whether kidney stones and bronchitis are related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's anxiety disorder was rated at 30 percent from May 18, 2011 to June 26, 2014. The Board denied a higher rating for this period. For the right knee PFS issue, the case is remanded as further examination is needed.
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