The Veteran's total left knee replacement and right knee chondromalacia patella with subchondral cyst are granted. The claim for service connection of a bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.
The deciding factor: An adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is required on remand.
- Claimed conditions
- Total left knee replacement, Chondromalacia patella of the right knee with subchondral cyst
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 31, 2024
- Citation
- A24028357
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 A24028357.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, total right and left knee replacements, tinnitus, degenerative disc disease with spinal fusion complications, painful middle back scar, and scars of the knees, have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation. A TDIU is granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's total left knee replacement is rated at 60 percent, the maximum schedular rating. SMC at the housebound rate is granted from September 29, 2010 to November 1, 2011.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's total left knee replacement, finding that it resulted in at most intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain, or limitation of motion.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 10 percent evaluation for right knee instability due to chondromalacia patella of the right knee with subchondral cyst, but denied an evaluation greater than 10 percent for the same condition.
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.