The Board finds that the currently demonstrated left knee degenerative changes are shown as likely as not to be due to the service-connected right knee chondromalacia with the residuals of the excision of a semilunar cartilage, and grants secondary service connection for the left knee disorder.
The deciding factor: The veteran's left knee degenerative changes were found to be likely caused by his service-connected right knee disability due to an altered gait that affected his left leg over time.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 5, 2006
- Citation
- 0616339
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 0616339.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claim for left knee degenerative changes was granted as secondary to service-connected right ankle tendonitis. The claim for eye disability was remanded for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent or 20 percent for various conditions, including left ear hearing loss, hypertension, GERD, cervical spine degenerative joints with herniated nucleus pulposus, lumbar spine herniated nucleus pulpous with radiculitis down posterior leg, right knee effusion/degenerative changes, left knee degenerative changes, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for total disability due to individual unemployability for the period prior to March 7, 2011 based on his service-connected rheumatic heart disease and left knee degenerative changes.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for left knee degenerative changes, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.
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