{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/knee-impairment","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:02.114Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Knee conditions","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":92362,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":19.1,"denied_pct":31.8,"remanded_pct":53.8,"granted_on_merits_pct":37.5,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":9797,"granted_pct":10.8,"denied_pct":31.1,"remanded_pct":53.7},{"year":2018,"issues":15596,"granted_pct":13.6,"denied_pct":30.6,"remanded_pct":52.6},{"year":2019,"issues":16396,"granted_pct":14,"denied_pct":29.4,"remanded_pct":54.7},{"year":2020,"issues":16158,"granted_pct":15.9,"denied_pct":33.2,"remanded_pct":49.5},{"year":2021,"issues":16158,"granted_pct":16.2,"denied_pct":32.3,"remanded_pct":50.1},{"year":2022,"issues":15823,"granted_pct":17.9,"denied_pct":26.4,"remanded_pct":54.4},{"year":2023,"issues":16924,"granted_pct":17.8,"denied_pct":26.7,"remanded_pct":54.3},{"year":2024,"issues":16545,"granted_pct":20.4,"denied_pct":28.8,"remanded_pct":49.6},{"year":2025,"issues":15277,"granted_pct":22.2,"denied_pct":30.9,"remanded_pct":45.6},{"year":2026,"issues":5933,"granted_pct":28.2,"denied_pct":29.8,"remanded_pct":40.8}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":66.7,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":9106,"granted_pct_with":58.5,"granted_pct_without":33.7},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":68201,"granted_pct_with":36.2,"granted_pct_without":43.7},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":11801,"granted_pct_with":70.8,"granted_pct_without":30.1},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":41751,"granted_pct_with":36.6,"granted_pct_without":38.3},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":24701,"granted_pct_with":48.8,"granted_pct_without":31.9},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":4073,"granted_pct_with":58.2,"granted_pct_without":36.1},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":75911,"granted_pct_with":37.1,"granted_pct_without":40.2},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":2922,"granted_pct_with":51.3,"granted_pct_without":37},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":4322,"granted_pct_with":49.2,"granted_pct_without":36.9}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":1837},{"reason":"continuity of symptomatology since service","decisions":461},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":435},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":248},{"reason":"already at the maximum schedular rating","decisions":184},{"reason":"criteria for service connection met","decisions":152}],"denied":[{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":2947},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":2583},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":2524},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":1668},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":1599},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":1212}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26040500","year":2026,"judge":"GAYLE STROMMEN","rationale":"No dispute of current disability.; Credible lay statements regarding in-service knee use.; Probative private medical opinion provided positive nexus."},{"case_id":"A26040542","year":2026,"judge":"JONATHAN HAGER","rationale":"Favorable finding from April 2025 VA examination regarding current disability.; Competent and credible lay evidence of symptom onset during service and continuity of symptoms.; Inadequate VA opinion due to failure to consider lay evidence and progression of severe arthritis.; Reasonable doubt resolv… [truncated, 56 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26040785","year":2026,"judge":"S. SORATHIA","rationale":"Lay statements consistent with service; STRs show complaint of ankle pain; Benefit of the doubt applied"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"26005097","year":2026,"judge":"RYAN T. KESSEL","rationale":"No in-service treatment or complaints of knee symptoms documented in STRs.; Veteran expressly denied knee symptoms in 1991 service medical history.; Post-service diagnosis of degenerative changes and tendonitis not linked to service.; VA examinations consistently found conditions not related to serv… [truncated, 88 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"26005092","year":2026,"judge":"J. PARKER","rationale":"VA examinations from January 2014 to December 2021 showed normal knee stability.; Lay and medical evidence did not demonstrate recurrent subluxation or dislocation.; Veteran's description of 'loose motion' and occasional brace use did not meet criteria for moderate instability."},{"case_id":"26005103","year":2026,"judge":"PAULETTE VANCE BURTON","rationale":"No in-service complaints or diagnosis of knee issues.; Diagnosis of left meniscus tear in 2014 and left knee degenerative arthritis in 2023.; Etiology and pathophysiology of meniscus tears and degenerative arthritis are fully understood (overuse/trauma).; Veteran reported pop in 2023, supporting con… [truncated, 111 chars omitted]"}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[{"citation":"38 CFR 4.71a","title":"Schedule of ratings: musculoskeletal system (knee and leg)","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.71a"},{"citation":"M21-1 V.iii.1.B.4","title":"Knee: instability, meniscus, genu recurvatum, and when to rate them separately from limited motion","url":"https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000014410/M21-1-Part-V-Subpart-iii-Chapter-1-Section-B-Musculoskeletal-Disabilities-of-the-Extremities-and-Spine"},{"citation":"M21-1 V.iii.1.A","title":"Painful motion and functional loss (38 CFR 4.59, DeLuca, Mitchell, Correia), incl. knee replacement","url":"https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000014407/M21-1-Part-V-Subpart-iii-Chapter-1-Section-A-Painful-Motion-and-Functional-Loss"}]}}