Yes! You can use AI to fill out Knee and Lower Leg Disability Benefits Questionnaire

People often leave the header fields blank or enter identifiers that don’t match the Veteran’s claim file (e.g., nickname, transposed SSN digits, or missing exam date). This can delay processing because VA staff may be unable to confidently associate the DBQ with the correct claimant or encounter. Always enter the Veteran’s legal name as used in VA records, verify the SSN digit-by-digit, and include the actual date the exam was performed (not the date the form was started or signed).

A common error is checking “Third party” but not listing the organization/individual, or selecting “Other” without describing it. This creates questions about the purpose and provenance of the report and can trigger follow-up requests. If a third party requested it, list the full legal name(s) and, if relevant, the role (e.g., attorney, VSO, insurer); if “Other,” provide a clear one-sentence explanation.

Providers sometimes check “Was the Veteran examined in person? No” but then complete detailed physical findings (ROM, palpation tenderness, crepitus) as if an in-person exam occurred, or they fail to describe how the exam was conducted. This inconsistency can undermine credibility and lead VA to discount the DBQ or order a new C&P exam. If not in-person, clearly state telehealth/records review method and limit objective findings to what can be supported, explaining any sections that cannot be reliably completed.

Many submissions check “Records reviewed” but don’t identify which records were reviewed or the date range, or they check “No records were reviewed” even though they reference imaging or prior notes later. VA relies on this section to understand the foundation for diagnoses and historical timelines. List specific sources (e.g., STRs, VA treatment records, private ortho notes) and include an approximate date range; ensure later references match what you said you reviewed.

It’s common to select a diagnosis (e.g., meniscal tear, osteoarthritis) but leave the side affected, ICD code, and/or diagnosis date blank, or to mark “Both” without clarifying right vs left details. This can cause rating errors because VA ratings are side-specific and depend on confirmed diagnoses and timelines. For each diagnosis, specify right/left/both, provide the ICD code if available, and give a reasonable diagnosis date (exact, approximate, or “date of current evaluation” if newly diagnosed).

Some clinicians check “The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis…” but do not explain why symptoms do not meet diagnostic criteria or how prior diagnoses were ruled out. Without a rationale, VA may view the DBQ as incomplete or inconsistent with the record. If no diagnosis is present, document the key negative findings, differential considerations, and why the claimed condition is not supported, and reference relevant evidence in the Remarks section.

A frequent data-entry issue is recording ROM in percentages, writing narrative text instead of degrees, swapping flexion and extension values, or entering values outside physiologic plausibility (e.g., extension “140” or flexion “0”). These errors can directly change the disability evaluation because VA ratings are degree-based. Always record ROM in degrees, double-check that flexion is typically up to ~140 and extension is typically to 0 (or note hyperextension/limited extension correctly), and ensure right/left entries are not transposed.

The form specifically asks for pain on active/passive motion and weight-bearing/nonweight-bearing, but many submissions only provide one set of ROM numbers and leave the pain-testing checkboxes blank. VA may consider the exam inadequate if required testing is missing without a medical contraindication explanation. If any testing cannot be performed, explicitly state the reason (e.g., risk of injury, severe pain) and document what was done instead.

Examiners often avoid estimating ROM loss after repeated use over time or during flare-ups, or they provide a generic statement like “cannot determine without speculation.” The DBQ instructs that estimates should be based on procurable information, including the Veteran’s statements, and that the explanation must be case-specific. To avoid an inadequate exam finding, document the Veteran’s flare frequency/duration/severity, cite relevant records, and provide a reasoned estimate in degrees when possible; if not feasible, explain precisely what information is missing and why it prevents an estimate in this case.

People commonly report braces/canes in Section 11 but answer “No” to the prescription question in Section 6D/6G, or they check devices without clarifying whether a medical provider prescribed them. VA distinguishes between prescribed devices for ambulation and self-selected use, which can affect how instability is evaluated. Clarify whether each device is prescribed, for what condition, for which side, and how often it is used; keep Section 6 and Section 11 consistent.

A common omission is checking a surgery (meniscectomy, ligament repair, total knee replacement) but leaving the date blank or failing to describe residual symptoms and functional limitations. For total knee replacement, the residual category (none/intermediate/chronic severe) is often left unselected, which can materially affect rating. Provide the best available surgery date (month/year if exact date unknown), specify the procedure, and describe current residuals (pain, weakness, ROM limits, instability) tied to that surgery.