The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and increased disability evaluations, except for left knee scar and patellofemoral complex with recurrent instability, which were granted an effective date of December 1, 2004.
The deciding factor: The effective date was not earlier than the date of receipt of the claim or the date entitlement arose, whichever is later, as required by law.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, limitation of extension, and chondromalacia patella, status-post meniscal tear, with patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee degenerative arthritis, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis of the right shoulder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee scar, left knee patellofemoral complex with recurrent instability, increased, 40 percent disability evaluation for left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, limitation of extension, and chondromalacia patella, status-post meniscal tear, with patellofemoral pain syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25031393
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 service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 25, 2022, for the award of service connection for tinnitus and a 100 percent initial rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder.
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