The Veteran's left knee DJD is service-connected, and his right L5-S1 radiculopathy remains at a 20 percent rating. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided an opinion that the left knee DJD was less likely than not related to service due to its lack of documentation and significant time void between service and disability onset.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic lower limb pain, polyarthropathy of the lower extremities, Degenerative joint disease of the right first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, Low back pain with L4-5 and L5-S1 bulging disc and bilateral lateral recess stenosis and sacroiliac joint dysfunction, Right L5-S1 radiculopathy, previously claimed as right great toe numbness due to degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, Right ankle strain, Right patellofemoral dysfunction, residual of patellar dislocation, status-post open proximal patellar realignment
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 27, 2017
- Citation
- 1748445
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 1748445.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine strain, right wrist sprain, right knee strain, left knee strain, and right ankle strain. The disabilities are all deemed to have begun during the Veteran's active duty.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, right ankle strain, and mild right foot retrocalcaneal spur as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to the current disabilities.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for right ankle strain and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle strain. The claim will be returned for further development.
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