The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the back, finding that new and material evidence was submitted. The Board also determined that this condition is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected rheumatic fever.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the current degenerative changes in the veteran's lumbar spine are more likely than not manifestations of aging, rather than related to his service-connected rheumatic fever.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative arthritis of the back
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 9, 2005
- Citation
- 0530064
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 0530064.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's bilateral foot, hand, and hip conditions are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ is instructed to obtain new medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are aggravated by the Veteran's inability to take NSAIDs due to his service-connected kidney removal.
- Denied
The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's right hip strain, impairment of thigh and remanded the claim for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the back.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection of various joint disabilities have been dismissed due to his death.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the back and multiple hip, knee, ankle, and plantar fasciitis conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted TDIU effective December 12, 2018.
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