The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a back disability and granted it. The right shoulder condition is denied, but the right knee condition related to patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee is granted.,Service connection was established for a back disability due to an in-service injury. Service connection for a right shoulder condition was denied as there was no evidence linking the current condition to service. The right knee condition secondary to the left knee condition is now service-connected.

The deciding factor: The March 2005 VA spine examination report provided new and material evidence by stating that it was likely related to a fall during service.,The February 2003 VA joints examination report provided an opinion linking the right knee condition to the left knee patellofemoral syndrome, which is considered secondary service connection.

Claimed conditions

{"condition_name":"Back strain","additional_notes":"Degenerative spondyloarthritis of the lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and degenerative sacroiliac joint arthritis, left side"}, {"condition_name":"Right shoulder pain","additional_notes":"Shoulder pain secondary to patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee (diagnosed as bilateral chondromalacia of patella)"}, {"condition_name":"Right knee condition","additional_notes":"Osteoarthritis of the patellofemoral joint with chondromalacia of the patella"}

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

20%

Decision date

September 6, 2006

Citation

0627780

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 0627780.