The appeal to reopen service connection for various knee and foot disabilities is granted. However, the preponderance of evidence does not support finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.
The deciding factor: There was no evidence of a nexus between current diagnoses and service, with the exception of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed post-service in 2009.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee, Left Knee, Right Foot (Heel Pain), Left Foot (Heel Pain), Right Arm (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Right Wrist Ganglion Cyst), Left Arm (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 14, 2021
- Citation
- 21063626
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 21063626.
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 service connection claims for various knee and back disabilities, as well as radiculopathy in the right lower extremity (RLE) and left lower extremity (LLE), have been granted. Service connection is also granted for a right hip disability secondary to his back disability.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been granted, with a rating of 30% for each knee. The Veteran is also entitled to special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient detail in the VA examination report. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to address whether he has subluxation, instability, or semilunar cartilage condition of either knee and what causes his reports of giving way.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee extension was rated at 50 percent effective May 12, 2023. The left knee extension was rated at 40 percent effective May 12, 2023.,Effective September 13, 2018 to May 12, 2023, the Veteran's bilateral knee flexion was most severely limited to 25 degrees. Effective May 12, 2023, the Veteran's bilateral knee flexion is rated at 10 percent.
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