The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for instability and arthritis in the left knee, as these conditions are not related to a service-connected disability. Patellofemoral syndrome in the left knee is secondary to a service-connected right knee disorder.
The deciding factor: VA compensation examinations found no medical nexus between the Veteran's current left knee disorders (instability and arthritis) and his service or any service-connected condition, including patellofemoral syndrome which was determined to be related to his service-connected right knee disorders due to overuse secondary to pain from osteoarthritis.
- Claimed conditions
- patellofemoral syndrome, instability, arthritis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 9, 2015
- Citation
- 1538614
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1538614.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to DIC due to a failure to obtain a medical opinion prior to the rating decision on appeal regarding whether the Veteran's arthritis was related to his period of active service, and if so, whether it contributed to his death.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for instability, a low back condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, rhinitis, and sinusitis, as well as entitlement to a TDIU.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his diagnosed conditions, including mental health disorders, gastrointestinal issues, respiratory problems, arthritis, neuropathy, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and headaches. The examination will also address whether any of these conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.
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