Chondromalacia patellae

Osteoarthritis - Chondromalacia patellae Factor

Chondromalacia patellae is a condition that causes mostly anterior (frontal) knee pain and is a common condition in young adults.

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms of chondromalacia patella may include:  tenderness, pain or discomfort of the anterior and inner knee area, aggravated by activity (running, jumping, climbing or descending stairs) or by prolonged sitting with knees in a moderately bent position, or on rising from a seated position, some people also experience a sense of "tightness" or "fullness" in the knee area.  There may also be a grating or grinding sensation when the knee is extended.

The signs may include an obvious reduction in quadriceps muscle mass, and mild swelling of the knee area, and/or grating, crackling or popping noises (crepitus) on extension of the knee.

Establishing onset

As the symptoms of chondromalacia patellae can also be accounted for by a number of other knee conditions the person may not have sought attention until the condition was well established.  In addition, doctors' notes and hospitals' records may have been destroyed or can no longer be obtained.  Therefore, a statement that chondromalacia patellae first developed at a particular time will generally be accepted, unless there is contradictory evidence.  Seek medical advice if it is unclear whether the symptoms claimed to be due to chondromalacia patellae at that time were actually due to chondromalacia patellae.

Last reviewed for CCPS 10 June 2012.

Preliminary questions [41748]

41749 there is some evidence that chondromalacia patellae may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

41750 the veteran has osteoarthritis of the patello-femoral joint involving the side and site of the body.

41858  the veteran has claimed osteoarthritis of a relevant joint or joints for chondromalacia patellae.

or

41860   the veteran has claimed osteoarthritis of an unspecified relevant joint or joints for chondromalacia patellae.

4061     the veteran has osteoarthritis of one or both knees.

41852 the veteran has had chondromalacia patellae at some time.

41751 the veteran has had chondromalacia patellae involving side and site of the body at some time.

41752  the veteran has established the causal connection between chondromalacia patellae and VEA service for the condition under consideration.

41753 the veteran had chondromalacia patellae involving side and site of the body before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

41754   the veteran has established the causal connection between chondromalacia patellae and VEA service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

41757  the veteran has established the causal connection between chondromalacia patellae and operational service for the clinical onset of osteoarthritis.

or

41758  the veteran has established the causal connection between chondromalacia patellae and eligible service for the clinical onset of osteoarthritis.

or

7334     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred after the end of the veteran's last period of VEA service.

7335     the condition under consideration permanently worsened.

41755 the veteran had chondromalacia patellae involving side and site of the body before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

41756   the veteran has established the causal connection between chondromalacia patellae and VEA service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

41759  the veteran has established the causal connection between chondromalacia patellae and operational service for the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis.

or

41760  the veteran has established the causal connection between chondromalacia patellae and eligible service for the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis.

Clinical onset and operational service [41757]

41761  the chondromalacia patellae involving side and site of the body is causally related to operational service.

Clinical onset and eligible service [41758]

41762  the chondromalacia patellae involving side and site of the body is causally related to eligible service.

Clinical worsening and operational service [41759]

41761  the chondromalacia patellae involving side and site of the body is causally related to operational service.

41763 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the chondromalacia patellae of side and site of the body is causally related.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [41760]

41762  the chondromalacia patellae involving side and site of the body is causally related to eligible service.

41764 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the chondromalacia patellae of side and site of the body is causally related.