Service connection for a left knee disability is granted.,Service connection for a right knee disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, is denied.,Service connection for a low back disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left knee disability onset in active service and has continued since separation from service. The Board finds the Veteran’s competent lay testimony credible regarding his left knee injury during boot camp.,There is no evidence of a right knee disability at any time during or approximate to the pendency of this claim, and there is insufficient evidence to warrant a diagnosis for a right knee disability.,The Veteran's low back disability was not diagnosed in service. The September 2014 VA examiner found no evidence of functional loss of the Veteran’s low back. There is also no competent evidence of a current diagnosed disability or pain amounting to the level of functional impairment of earning capacity for a low back disability.,The Veteran's tinnitus symptoms began during active service and have continued since separation from service. The Board finds his statements as to the onset of his tinnitus credible, and concludes that his in-service noise exposure is related to his current tinnitus.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee disability, right knee disability, low back disability, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 20, 2021
- Citation
- 21023464
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 21023464.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
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