Citation Nr: 20007992 Decision Date: 01/30/20 Archive Date: 01/30/20 DOCKET NO. 17-56 523 DATE: January 30, 2020 ORDER The appeal to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral knee retropatellar pain syndrome and arthritis is granted. Service connection for bilateral knee retropatellar pain syndrome and arthritis is granted. FINDINGS OF FACT 1. At his November 2019 Board hearing, the Veteran provided competent (qualified) and credible testimony that was new (explaining the details of his separation and providing previously-missing service treatment records) and material (relating to an unestablished fact that the Veteran was sound upon enlistment, which could potentially substantiate the claim). 2. The Veteran has a current disability of bilateral retropatellar pain syndrome and arthritis (See March 1991 service treatment record and January 2017 private treatment record); at his November 2019 Board hearing, he provided competent (qualified) and credible testimony that he experienced an in-service knee injury when he fell down a ladder and that he has experienced the same knee symptoms from that time until the present. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW 1. New and material evidence has been submitted sufficient to reopen the claim. 38 U.S.C. § 5108, 5103A; 38 C.F.R. § 3.156. 2. The criteria for service connection have been met for bilateral knee retropatellar pain syndrome and arthritis. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1112, 5107(b); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303(b), 3.307, 3.309(a). REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS The Veteran served on active duty from March 1990 to June 1991. These matters are before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a March 2017 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). A Board hearing was conducted in November 2019 before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge; a copy of the transcript has been associated with the claims file. Service Connection 1. The appeal to reopen a claim for service connection for bilateral knee retropatellar pain syndrome and arthritis is granted. For the reasons outlined above, the appeal to reopen a claim for service connection for bilateral knee retropatellar pain syndrome and arthritis is granted. [CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE] 2. Service connection for bilateral knee retropatellar pain syndrome and arthritis is granted. For the reasons outlined above, service connection for bilateral knee retropatellar pain syndrome and arthritis is warranted. VICTORIA MOSHIASHWILI Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board M. Williams, Associate Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential, and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.