The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim of right shoulder disability, but left knee arthritis is service connected. The Veteran's right knee disabilities are rated based on limitation of motion.
The deciding factor: New and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim for a right shoulder disability. Service connection for left knee arthritis was granted as it was caused by his service-connected right knee disability. Right knee arthritis with post-operative limitation of motion is rated at 20 percent, right knee meniscal condition is rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5258 (dislocated semilunar cartilage), and lumbar paravertebral fibromyositis is rated at 40 percent.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Shoulder Disability, Left Knee Arthritis (claimed as a left leg disability), Right Knee Arthritis with Post-Operative Limitation of Motion, Right Knee Meniscal Condition, Lumbar Paravertebral Fibromyositis, Right Ear Hearing Loss, Left Wrist Fracture with Stenosis of Navicular
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 7, 2017
- Citation
- 1737528
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1737528.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities are remanded. The claim for sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea) remains denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, finding insufficient evidence to establish an in-service event or injury related to his shoulders. The Veteran's current shoulder conditions are not linked to his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on in-service noise exposure or other theories.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right shoulder disability, low back condition, bilateral knee disabilities, and left shoulder strain have been granted service connection. The Veteran's low back condition has been increased to a 40 percent evaluation, while the bilateral knee conditions remain at their current 10 percent evaluations.
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