Acute Meniscal Tear

Definition

Acute meniscal tears are injuries involving tearing of the lateral or medial meniscus in the knee joint.

Signs and symptoms

The signs of an acute meniscal tear would include sudden onset of pain and tenderness in the knee (within 24 hours of the injury), and could include swelling, locking, or loss of functional ability.

Establishing onset

A history of an acute meniscal tear may be documented in the evidence.  However, the person may not have sought medical attention for such an injury.  In addition, all relevant medical records may not be available, therefore, a statement that an acute meniscal tear occurred at a particular time will generally be accepted, unless there is contradictory evidence.  Seek medical advice if the onset of the acute meniscal tear is unclear.

Last reviewed for CCPS 29 September 2013.

Preliminary questions [41972]

41973  the veteran had an acute meniscal tear at some time.

41974  the veteran had the acute meniscal tear to side and site of the body at some time.

41975  the veteran has established the causal connection between the acute meniscal tear and VEA service for Internal derangement of the knee.

41976   the veteran had the acute meniscal tear to the side and site of the body within the six months before the clinical onset of the internal derangement of the knee.

41977   the veteran has established the causal connection between this acute meniscal tear and VEA service for the clinical onset of internal derangement of the knee.

41980  the veteran has established the causal connection between this acute meniscal tear and operational service for the clinical onset of the internal derangement of the knee.

or

41981  the veteran has established the causal connection between this acute meniscal tear and eligible service for the clinical onset of internal derangement of the knee.

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.

41978   the veteran had the acute meniscal tear to side and site of the body within the six months before the clinical worsening of the internal derangement of the knee.

41979   the veteran has established the causal connection between this acute meniscal tear and VEA service for the clinical worsening of the internal derangement of the knee.

41982  the veteran has established the causal connection between this acute meniscal tear and operational service for the clinical worsening of the internal derangement of the knee.

or

41983  the veteran has established the causal connection between this acute meniscal tear and eligible service for the clinical worsening of the internal derangement of the knee.

Clinical onset and operational service [41980]

41984  the acute meniscal tear to side and site of the body is causally related to operational service.

Clinical onset and eligible service [41981]

41985  the acute meniscal tear to side and site of the body is causally related to eligible service.

Clinical worsening and operational service [41982]

41984  the acute meniscal tear to side and site of the body is causally related to operational service.

41986  the clinical onset of the internal derangement of the knee occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the acute meniscal tear is causally related.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [41983]

41985  the acute meniscal tear to side and site of the body is causally related to eligible service.

41987  the clinical onset of the internal derangement of the knee occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the acute meniscal tear is causally related.