The Board has granted service connection for DDD of the thoracolumbar spine and assigned a 20 percent disability rating. Service connection was denied for bilateral knee disorder, left hand disorder, bilateral wrist disorder, and right ear otitis media and externa.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish current disabilities for the claimed conditions or continuity of symptomatology since service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the thoracolumbar spine, Bilateral knee disorder, Left hand disorder, Bilateral wrist disorder, Right ear otitis media and otitis externa
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 23, 2002
- Citation
- 0212819
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 0212819.
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 Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, bilateral knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors and insufficient medical opinions. The issues include PTSD, neck disorder, back disorder, left-hand disorder, bilateral foot disorders, and bilateral knee disorders.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examiner's opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities result in loss of use and if so, whether he requires aid and attendance without considering such disability/ies. The Veteran also needs to be considered for SMC R1 based on the need for regular aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is denied as there is no medical evidence linking the condition to service.,The Veteran's right knee and left knee disorders are denied as there is no medical evidence linking them to service or secondary to a lower back disability.,The Veteran's left hand disorder remains pending, requiring additional medical opinion.
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