The Board granted service connection for right shoulder and right hand disabilities secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The initial evaluation for left knee arthritis was denied, as were evaluations greater than 20 percent for right knee cruciate ligament instability and internal derangement prior to May 16, 2014, and from July 1, 2014.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder and right hand disabilities were proximately caused by his service-connected right knee disability based on medical evidence and lay statements. The initial evaluation for left knee arthritis was denied due to lack of significant history of falling prior to the injury, while evaluations greater than 20 percent for right knee cruciate ligament instability and internal derangement were denied as there was no recurrent effusion or subluxation.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Shoulder Disability, Right Hand Disability, Left Knee Arthritis, Right Knee Cruciate Ligament Instability and Internal Derangement
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- February 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19113640
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,062 · Granted: 34% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19113640.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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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