The Veteran's application to restore a 30 percent rating for his service-connected left knee chondromalacia and degenerative joint disease has been granted. The remaining issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for right shoulder disorder, right foot gout, left foot gout, left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, tinnitus, and gastritis are addressed in the remand portion.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected left knee chondromalacia and degenerative joint disease is manifested primarily by pain on motion, tenderness to palpation, flexion to as little as 100 degrees, extension to as little as 10 degrees, weakened movement, excess fatigability, incoordination, and swelling.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee chondromalacia and degenerative joint disease, right shoulder disorder, right foot gout, left foot gout, left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, tinnitus, gastritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 22, 2015
- Citation
- 1553298
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 1553298.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to unclear evidence regarding the diagnosis of gastritis and its relation to service. The Veteran needs to provide records, and a VA examiner will review his medical history and determine if gastritis is related to his military service or any other conditions.
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