The Veteran's secondary service connection claim for dry eye syndrome is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, including instability, meet the criteria for separate initial 20 percent ratings from August 30, 2010.
The deciding factor: The June 2021 VA examiner found a nexus between the Veteran's dry eye syndrome and his service-connected multiple sclerosis. For his right and left knee disabilities, the Board considered DeLuca factors and found that the Veteran experienced painful flexion but noncompensable limitation of motion, warranting separate initial 20 percent ratings from August 30, 2010.
- Claimed conditions
- Dry Eye Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Right Knee Patellofemoral Syndrome (Right Knee Disability), Left Knee Patellofemoral Syndrome (Left Knee Disability)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 16, 2021
- Citation
- 21074884
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 21074884.
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 Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining records of the Appellant's reserve component service and conducting a VA examination to determine if her multiple sclerosis is related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the previously denied claims for service connection for Multiple Sclerosis, Hypertension, and Headaches. The case is being remanded to allow for further consideration.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted an earlier effective date of December 12, 2017 for the award of service connection for dry eye syndrome. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for dry eye syndrome is remanded.
- Denied
The Veteran's right foot AFO brace did not cause wear and tear to her clothing, specifically pants, during the 2022 calendar year. Therefore, she is denied a clothing allowance for that year.
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