The Board has denied a compensable disability rating for right ear hearing loss and has remanded the issue of entitlement to a higher disability rating for left knee arthritis status post mechanical trauma with osteochondral defect of the medial femoral condyle.,VA previously rated the appellant's left knee condition as 10 percent disabling under DC 5261. The VA examination report was inadequate, failing to consider the appellant's lay statements regarding functional loss and not addressing the effects of medication.
The deciding factor: The VA examination did not adequately address the appellant's complaints about functional loss due to repetitive use or after extended walking, nor did it account for the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ear hearing loss, Left knee arthritis status post mechanical trauma with osteochondral defect of the medial femoral condyle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 12, 2026
- Citation
- A26013653
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 A26013653.
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 remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability is dismissed. The appeal for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate audiometric examinations. The Veteran will be scheduled for new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his left ear hearing loss and the severity of his hearing loss.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of hypertension and right ear hearing loss were denied. The Board has remanded these issues.,Service connection for hypertension was granted in June 2023 based on the PACT Act, but an earlier effective date is not warranted.
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