The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for right knee and left knee disorders. However, after reviewing all available evidence, including VA examinations and private medical opinions, the Board finds that there is no competent medical evidence linking any current right or left knee disability to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be established.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's complaints of knee pain during service were not accompanied by a diagnosis of arthritis, which is required under VA regulations for establishing service connection based on continuity of symptomatology. The Board also found that the current right and left knee disabilities are not related to service due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee, Left Knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 28, 2015
- Citation
- 1545871
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 1545871.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for various knee and back disabilities, as well as radiculopathy in the right lower extremity (RLE) and left lower extremity (LLE), have been granted. Service connection is also granted for a right hip disability secondary to his back disability.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been granted, with a rating of 30% for each knee. The Veteran is also entitled to special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient detail in the VA examination report. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to address whether he has subluxation, instability, or semilunar cartilage condition of either knee and what causes his reports of giving way.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee extension was rated at 50 percent effective May 12, 2023. The left knee extension was rated at 40 percent effective May 12, 2023.,Effective September 13, 2018 to May 12, 2023, the Veteran's bilateral knee flexion was most severely limited to 25 degrees. Effective May 12, 2023, the Veteran's bilateral knee flexion is rated at 10 percent.
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