The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition was not incurred or aggravated by her active military service. The evidence did not show an increase in disability during service and the arthritis is considered to be a natural progression of aging.
The deciding factor: The examiner determined that the Veteran’s pre-existing meniscus impairment was not aggravated beyond its natural progression by an in-service event, and that her right knee degenerative joint disease was related to advanced age rather than active military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Meniscal Tear, Degenerative Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 27, 2018
- Citation
- 18160663
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 18160663.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted the attorney's appeal for eligibility to the payment of fees based on past-due benefits from a February 2024 decision that assigned a higher disability rating for GERD, but denied it for the right knee meniscal impairment.
- Denied
The appeal of a proposed reduction of the evaluation of left knee meniscal tear, status post arthroscopic repair with chondromalacia, to include degenerative arthritis from 20 percent to 10 percent is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected left knee disability was also denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted the appellant's eligibility for direct payment of attorney fees from past due benefits awarded in the portion of a May 2022 rating decision granting higher ratings for painful residual right foot scars and service connection for bilateral claw foot (pes cavus), but denied it for the portion granting initial ratings for right knee MCL sprain, right hip iliopsoas tendinitis, and bilateral claw foot.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, including degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, spondylolisthesis, and compression fracture at L2, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.