The veteran's service connection claims for arthritis of the ankles, degenerative changes of the lumbar and thoracic spine, and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine have been granted. The veteran is currently assigned a noncompensable rating for arthritis in both knees.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established for all disabilities except arthritis of the ankles, which was not found to be present during service or within one year of separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis of the Ankles, Degenerative Changes of the Lumbar Spine, Degenerative Changes of the Thoracic Spine, Degenerative Disc and Joint Disease of the Cervical Spine, Arthritis and Chondromalacia, Right Knee, Arthritis and Chondromalacia, Left Knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- March 30, 2001
- Citation
- 0109663
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 0109663.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran is entitled to an earlier effective date of February 29, 2000, for an award of TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to his service-connected back and left knee disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board granted clothing allowances for a back brace and wheelchair, but denied them for a neck brace, bilateral knee braces, pain medication therapy, cane, and walker.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD disability alone precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU. The increased rating claim for the PTSD with major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and alcohol use disorder is dismissed as moot due to the grant of TDIU. SMC was granted from June 1, 2023, based on an aggregated 70 percent additional disability rating.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 40% from September 12, 2024 to the present. Service connection for a low back disorder was denied as there is no evidence of causation or aggravation by service-connected right knee disability.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.