The veteran's lumbosacral spine and left ankle disabilities have been granted initial compensable evaluations.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the veteran's back pain and arthralgias were related to his injury in service, while his left ankle disability was due to a motor vehicle accident in service.
- Claimed conditions
- arthralgia of the lumbosacral spine, degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the left ankle
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2002
- Citation
- 0200194
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0200194.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeals for increased disability ratings in excess of 40 percent for arthralgia of the lumbosacral spine and for a bilateral hearing loss.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for DJD of the lumbar spine, bilateral ankles, bilateral feet, COPD, a cardiovascular disorder, and PTSD due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration (SSA).
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee and left ankle disabilities due to the need for updated VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arthralgia of the lumbosacral spine, depressive disorder, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremity, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)/gastritis, combine to be 70 percent disabling. The Board finds that these conditions prevent the Veteran from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
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