The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability, characterized by degenerative joint disease (arthritis), was not incurred in or related to service. The Board also determined there is no legal basis for secondary service connection of a right hip muscle strain as it is not linked to the established right knee disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and private treatment records did not establish that the current right knee disability had its onset during service, was chronic since service separation, or was related to any in-service injury or event.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee degenerative joint disease (arthritis), right hip muscle strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 21, 2015
- Citation
- 1502916
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 1502916.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for right and left hip muscle strain as they were not adequately addressed in the April 2024 VA examination report. The Veteran needs to be scheduled for an examination to determine the current level of severity of all impairment resulting from service-connected right and left hip muscle strain.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right and left knee arthritis as the evidence did not support a finding of an in-service injury, disease, or event related to either knee, nor was there sufficient evidence to establish a secondary relationship between the knee disabilities and the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates of May 3, 2021, for the veteran's left and right lower extremity sciatica radiculopathy, right hip muscle strain, and GERD.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for GERD, lumbar spine muscle strain, and right hip muscle strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and right knee disability.
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