The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the thoracic spine is as likely as not secondary to his service-connected foot disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports a finding that the veteran's severe arthritis of the thoracic spine developed due to trauma from his in-service heel fractures, which caused an altered gait and subsequent joint damage over time.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis of the thoracic spine
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 14, 2004
- Citation
- 0428332
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 0428332.
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 Veteran's post-operative right inguinal hernia has not been shown to be recurrent. The most probative evidence of record reflects that for the period on appeal the Veteran has been shown to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran is already in receipt of a separate 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7802 for his residual, scar post-operative right inguinal hernia. A higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7802 is not warranted.,The Veteran's combined evaluation exceeded 40 percent from March 23, 2007, and he meets the schedular requirements for entitlement to a TDIU.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's arthritis of the thoracic spine is rated at 40 percent prior to March 11, 2019, and at 20 percent thereafter. The Board has also granted separate 20 percent ratings for RLE and LLE radiculopathy since August 3, 2018. Service connection for left leg restless leg syndrome is remanded as it is claimed as secondary to service-connected arthritis of the thoracic spine.
- Granted
Service connection has been granted for arthritis of the cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, hands, right knee, left knee, migraine headaches, and sinus condition (to include allergic rhinitis).,Prostate cancer has also been granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD, along with his back and knee disabilities, has resulted in a TDIU effective March 30, 2006. The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD effective the same date.
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