The Board granted the application to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disorder and denied increased ratings for various knee conditions.
The deciding factor: The evidence submitted since the July 2006 rating decision is both new and material, allowing the reopening of the claim for service connection for a low back disorder. The criteria for higher ratings were not met for the knee conditions due to the lack of sufficient evidence showing more severe symptoms than those already rated.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back disorder, Left knee osteoarthritis (OA), Left knee meniscal instability, Status/post arthroscopic repair left knee, Residuals of a total left knee replacement, Degenerative joint disease (DJD) right knee, Right knee meniscal injury, Right knee post meniscectomy
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 3, 2022
- Citation
- 22000061
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a low back disorder to correct duty to assist errors, as the previous VA examinations and opinions are inadequate.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hearing loss, psychiatric disorder, neck disorder, and radiculopathy of both upper and lower extremities to correct duty-to-assist errors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of a disability rating for a low back disorder and entitlement to TDIU due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a low back disorder, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity on a secondary basis, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity on a secondary basis.
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