The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities, as well as service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are rated under Diagnostic Code 5019 due to limitation of motion.
The deciding factor: The objective medical evidence does not show that the Veteran’s bilateral knee disabilities more closely approximate degenerative arthritis with x-ray findings involving two or more major joints, or occasional incapacitating exacerbations.
- Claimed conditions
- Chondromalacia Patella, Degenerative Arthritis of the Knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 20, 2022
- Citation
- 22059193
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 22059193.
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 claim for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and Chondromalacia Patella was reopened on May 23, 2011. A VA mental disorders examination confirmed the diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and assigned a 50 percent disability rating effective from May 23, 2011.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right knee disability is not rated higher than 10 percent due to limited flexion. The claim for increased rating remains pending and will be remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia patella is rated at 20 percent, effective September 18, 2023, for instability. The rating is granted based on the current evidence of moderate instability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for right knee instability since August 15, 2019. The issue of a higher rating for chondromalacia patella of the right knee is remanded due to incomplete records.
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