The Veteran's right knee arthritis was not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology is not established. The Veteran’s current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis of the right knee is not at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing has been manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level I in each ear. A compensable evaluation for a bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.,Service connection for left shoulder strain and degenerative joint disease are remanded due to inadequate rationale regarding whether the disabilities had their onset in service or are otherwise related to service.,Service connection for right shoulder strain and degenerative joint disease are remanded due to inadequate rationale regarding whether the disabilities had their onset in service or are otherwise related to service. The examiner's opinion is based on an inaccurate factual premise, as a September 1991 medical record diagnosed the Veteran with a chronic subscapular musculoskeletal strain.,Service connection for upper back strain and degenerative joint disease are remanded due to inadequate rationale regarding whether the disabilities had their onset in service or are otherwise related to service. The examiner's opinion is based on an inaccurate factual premise, as a September 1991 medical record diagnosed the Veteran with a chronic subscapular musculoskeletal strain.

The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran’s right knee disability is related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on audiometric and speech recognition test results.,Service connection cannot be granted as there is no objective evidence indicating that the Veteran’s current complaints of shoulder pain are due to service. The January 2019 medical opinion did not take into consideration the Veteran's lay statements regarding an injury in service and any symptoms persisting since service.,The right shoulder disability was not addressed in the January 2019 medical opinion, as it was noted that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder. The examiner’s opinion is based on an inaccurate factual premise, as a September 1991 medical record diagnosed the Veteran with a chronic subscapular musculoskeletal strain.,Service connection cannot be granted as there is no objective evidence indicating that the Veteran’s current complaints of upper back pain are due to service. The January 2019 medical opinion did not take into consideration the Veteran's lay statements regarding an injury in service and any symptoms persisting since service.

Claimed conditions

{"condition_name":"Right Knee Arthritis","diagnosis_date":null,"current_diagnosis":"Degenerative Joint Disease (Arthritis) of the right knee"}, {"condition_name":"Left Shoulder Strain","diagnosis_date":null,"current_diagnosis":"Mild Degenerative Joint Disease of the left shoulder"}, {"condition_name":"Right Shoulder Strain","diagnosis_date":null,"current_diagnosis":"Degenerative Joint Disease of the right shoulder"}, {"condition_name":"Upper Back Strain","diagnosis_date":"September 1991","current_diagnosis":"Degenerative Joint Disease of the upper back"}

How they argued it

Not specified

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

November 12, 2019

Citation

A19002671

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 A19002671.