The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing right ankle condition was aggravated by service, and granted service connection for synovitis and arthritis of the right ankle. The veteran is also rated as having a hiatal hernia, bilateral otitis media, left knee disorder, and lower back disorder.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing right ankle condition was aggravated by service, which satisfies the criteria for service connection under the theory of aggravation.
- Claimed conditions
- Synovitis and arthritis of the right ankle, Hiatal hernia, Bilateral otitis media, Left knee disorder, Lower back disorder
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 31, 2002
- Citation
- 0208792
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 0208792.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The Board denied the veteran's claims for annual clothing allowances for a left knee sleeve, A&D ointment, hydrocortisone cream, and incontinence briefs due to lack of service connection or evidence that these items cause irreparable damage to outer garments.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of both knees, hypertension, and a lower back disorder to obtain private medical records from Dr. B. Taylor.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, a left knee disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia, and diverticulitis. A 30 percent rating was also granted for the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder effective February 26, 2021.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, but remanded claims for boils/cyst lower extremities/back, bilateral hearing loss, and left knee disorder.
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