The Veteran's service-connected lumbar back strain and right knee patellar chondromalacia did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to October 23, 2000.
The deciding factor: VA medical examinations and opinions indicated that the Veteran had full range of motion in his knees and functional range of motion in his lumbar spine, precluding a determination that he was unemployable due solely to service-connected disabilities prior to October 23, 2000.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar back strain, right knee patellar chondromalacia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- February 3, 2016
- Citation
- 1603819
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 1603819.
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 Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of adequate examination and opinion regarding his bilateral foot disorders, including neuropathy, and lumbar disorder. The claims will be reviewed with additional examinations and opinions.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims at a hearing.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected lumbar back strain, cervical spine disability, bilateral pes planus, left ankle and knee disabilities, tinnitus, and hearing loss are rated accordingly. The effective date for the grant of service connection is denied prior to December 29, 2015. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) claims have also been denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the September 2023 VA examination and the need for a new examination, as well as addressing the Veteran's lay reports of effusion and clicking in his right knee.
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