The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability did not manifest in service or within the first post-service year, nor is it otherwise related to service. The Board also determined that the current right knee disability was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected left knee or thoracolumbar spine disability.
The deciding factor: The November 2014 VA examination showed no evidence of arthritis in the right knee during service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's current right knee disability is attributed to a 2007 post-service injury. The examiner opined that it is less likely as not that the current right knee condition was caused by or aggravated by his left knee or thoracolumbar spine disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Arthritis, Right Knee Strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 6, 2017
- Citation
- 1703428
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 1703428.
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating prior to August 12, 2013 was denied as his right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5003.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating from April 1, 2016 was denied as he is already receiving the maximum allowable disability rating of 60 percent for total right knee replacement.
- Granted
The Veteran's right and left knee strains, as well as shin splints, were granted increased ratings. The Veteran also received special monthly compensation at the housebound rate from October 25, 2017 to March 11, 2024.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's right knee disability rating from 10% to 30%, effective July 1, 2025, finding that the reduction was improper and constituted a de facto severance of service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle, bilateral knee, and left hip disability. The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for left thigh strain with limitation of flexion is granted.
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