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Partly granted

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected residuals of a left knee injury with traumatic arthritis was denied, but new and material evidence was found to reopen the claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine. Service connection was granted for DJD of the cervical spine and mixed posttraumatic/migraine headaches.

The deciding factor: The decision was based on a finding that the veteran's DJD of the cervical spine and mixed posttraumatic/migraine headaches were etiologically linked to his service, while an acquired psychiatric disorder was not found to be related to his military service or any service-connected disability.

Claimed conditions
residuals of a left knee injury with traumatic arthritis, degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the cervical spine with spinal stenosis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), residuals of a head injury, identified as mixed posttraumatic/migraine headaches, anxiety and depression
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
10%
Decision date
January 23, 2009
Citation
0902347

Veterans Law Judge

KATHLEEN K. GALLAGHER

Decisions by this judge: 1,013 · Granted: 17% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)

Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.

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 0902347.

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

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