The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and calcaneal spurs of the left heel. The veteran's right knee condition is not considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may arthritis of the right knee be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated in active service. The Board has also granted service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee and degenerative joint disease of the left knee on a new and material basis.
The deciding factor: The veteran's low back condition had its onset during service, and calcaneal spurs of the left heel were found in service. The right knee condition was not present at separation from service or for several years later, and is not related to an incident of service or a service-connected disability. Patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee existed prior to service as demonstrated by post-service clinical findings, and degenerative joint disease of the left knee did not worsen in service.
- Claimed conditions
- Calcaneal Spurs of the Left Heel, Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbar Spine, Left Knee Condition (Patellofemoral Syndrome and Degenerative Joint Disease), Right Knee Condition
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 26, 2003
- Citation
- 0305739
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 0305739.
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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- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded certain issues for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
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