The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, respiratory disorder to include asthma, bilateral foot disorder to include bone spurs of the heels, and bilateral ankle disability. Service connection was denied for right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right knee condition, and headaches.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine is presumed to have been incurred during active military service due to its onset within one year of discharge. The respiratory disorder to include asthma was also granted as it may have had its onset during his military service. Evidence showed osteoarthritic changes in both feet and ankles, which were diagnosed post-service but related to inservice complaints.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, respiratory disorder to include asthma, bilateral foot disorder to include bone spurs of the heels, bilateral ankle disability, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, headaches
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 24, 2000
- Citation
- 0004778
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 0004778.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Dismissed
The appeals for restoration of ratings and for a higher disability rating were dismissed as the April 2025 rating decision did not make final decisions on these issues.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an increased initial disability evaluation of headaches due to an inadequate VA examination.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, radiculopathies, a bladder disability, headaches, a left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral conjunctivitis. The Board also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.
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