The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease, is at least as likely as not related to her military service. The claim for service connection is therefore granted.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions provided by both VA and private physicians support a link between the Veteran's in-service knee complaints and current left knee disability, with the Board resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- Osteoarthritis (left knee disability), Degenerative Joint Disease
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 6, 2020
- Citation
- 20071999
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 Veteran's knee disabilities have been rated based on their effects on his ability to perform activities of daily living, with a 30 percent rating for post-operative residuals and a 40 percent rating for limited extension. A separate 10 percent rating has also been granted for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the left and right feet has been granted with a rating of 20 percent each. However, his request for TDIU remains pending as it was not initially addressed by the AOJ.
- Denied
The Veteran's cervical spine disability prior to December 9, 2015 did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent due to limited range of motion and no evidence of ankylosis or intervertebral disc syndrome.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including diagnosed degenerative joint disease, is etiologically linked to his documented in-service left knee injury and symptoms. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.
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