Service connection is granted for post-traumatic arthritis of C3 and C4, but denied for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine. Service connection is also granted for arthritis of both knees, but hearing loss of the right ear remains denied.,The veteran's traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine is linked to an injury sustained while on active duty.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established based on direct evidence and medical opinion linking the current conditions to service. The VA examiner found no evidence of degenerative disc disease or arthritis in the lumbosacral spine, and the veteran's hearing loss is not considered a disability under VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-traumatic arthritis of C3 and C4, Degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, Hearing loss of the right ear, Arthritis of both knees
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 23, 2005
- Citation
- 0513941
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 0513941.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that a remand is necessary due to the Veteran's assertion of worsening hearing loss. The case will be returned for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining any outstanding medical records.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle and lumbosacral spine disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at a 40 percent evaluation, effective from the date of the May 2013 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss of the right ear, which may still be related to service despite no hearing loss at separation.
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