The Veteran's claims for left and right knee instability, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and back condition were denied. The Board found no earlier effective date prior to May 21, 2019, for these conditions as the evidence did not show entitlement arose before that date.,For left and right knee strain with chondromalacia, a rating of 20 percent was granted.
The deciding factor: The effective dates were denied because there is no clear indication from the Veteran when he first filed his informal claim for these conditions. The earliest diagnosis noted in the record was May 21, 2019, which is considered the date entitlement arose.,For left and right knee strain with chondromalacia, a rating of 20 percent was granted as the evidence showed slight impairment that more nearly approximated flexion limited to 30 degrees.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Knee Instability, Right Knee Instability, Left Knee Strain with Chondromalacia, Right Knee Strain with Chondromalacia, Tinnitus, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Back Condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 29, 2024
- Citation
- A24051222
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A24051222.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
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