The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left knee disabilities and service connection for bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,An effective date prior to June 5, 2019 is denied for the grant of service connection for left knee meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tears and strain with osteoarthritis.
The deciding factor: The claims are being remanded due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain adequate examinations addressing the severity of the Veteran's left knee disabilities and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss.,No effective date prior to June 5, 2019 can be assigned as no claim for service connection was received until that date.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tears, left knee strain with osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2021
- Citation
- A21020198
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 A21020198.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in combination, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee strain with osteoarthritis, lumbosacral strain, and lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbosacral strain due to a lack of consideration of continuity of symptoms since separation.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions have caused him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation (SMC).
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an effective date of October 24, 2022, for obstructive sleep apnea. Other claims were denied or remanded.
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