The Veteran's claim for left knee disability was previously denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The Board has now reopened the claim based on new evidence, but a remand is required as further clarification and evaluation are needed.
The deciding factor: New evidence received after the previous denial relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for left knee disability.
- Claimed conditions
- gouty arthritis, degenerate joint disease, varus arthrosis, moderate osteoarthrosis of bilateral knees, left knee arthrosis primarily medial, left knee arthralgia, probable degenerative meniscal tear
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 27, 2023
- Citation
- 23053754
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 23053754.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence related to the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been received since the May 2023 rating decision. The claims of increased ratings for cervical spine strain, right shoulder arthralgia, right knee arthralgia based on limitation of flexion, left knee arthralgia based on limitation of flexion, and entitlement to a 40 percent rating, but no higher, for right knee arthralgia based on limitation of extension from October 28, 2024 to February 25, 2025 are remanded.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee arthralgia, degenerative arthritis, and genu varus deformity as there is no evidence that these conditions manifested within a year of discharge or were otherwise incurred in service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, generalized anxiety and major depressive disorder, DJD, and gouty arthritis, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment as of May 8, 2001. As a result, the Board has granted an earlier effective date for TDIU from that date.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's appeal of service connection for memory loss has been withdrawn and dismissed.,Service connection is granted for right knee arthralgia as secondary to lumbosacral strain, subject to the laws and regulations governing the payment of monetary benefits.,Service connection is granted for left knee arthralgia as secondary to lumbosacral strain, subject to the laws and regulations governing the payment of monetary benefits.,The claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) is remanded.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.