The veteran's claim for arthritis of the hands was denied as he does not have this condition.,Service connection was granted for post-operative residuals of a medial meniscal tear of the left knee with arthritis, and assigned a 10% evaluation effective October 1, 1994. The dorsal and lumbar spine disorder was recharacterized as arthritis of the lumbosacral spine with arthritis of the dorsal spine by x-ray evidence only, and assigned a 10% evaluation effective October 16, 1997.,Service connection for bronchial asthma was granted, and assigned a 30% rating effective October 1, 1994.
The deciding factor: The veteran does not have arthritis of the hands. The VA examinations did not find any current diagnosis of this condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis of the hands, Arthritis of the right knee, Bronchial asthma, Degenerative arthritis of the dorsal and lumbar spine, Post-operative residuals of a medial meniscal tear of the left knee with arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 26, 2004
- Citation
- 0410866
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 0410866.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development and clarification regarding the severity of the Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities, specifically to determine if the Veteran has experienced 'the functional equivalent of range of motion loss contemplated by the next higher rating' at any point during the appeal period.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and bilateral tinnitus. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied. Other claims were either granted or remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's arthritis of both knees is not related to an injury or disease incurred in active service and has not been caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for sinusitis, bronchial asthma, allergies, and a right hip disability due to inadequate medical examinations and the need for additional evidence.
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.