The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, and the issues of service connection and reopening a previously denied claim were addressed. The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine, and granted service connection for this condition. Service connection was also granted for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and numbness and tingling of the bilateral legs as secondary to service-connected mechanical low back strain. The Veteran's sarcoidosis of the thighs, arms, and legs and pulmonary sarcoidosis were both rated at 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The Board found that new evidence had been submitted sufficient to reopen the previously denied claim for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine, and granted service connection for this condition. Service connection was also granted for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and numbness and tingling of the bilateral legs as secondary to service-connected mechanical low back strain.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative changes of the thoracic spine, Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, Numbness and tingling of bilateral legs, Sarcoidosis of the thighs, arms, and legs, Pulmonary sarcoidosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 26, 2009
- Citation
- 0919591
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 0919591.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus granting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding a positive nexus to the Veteran's active duty service.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal of proposed rating reductions for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy, left lower extremity, due to procedural defects in the Veteran's notice of disagreement. The issue regarding a compensable rating for migraine headaches was remanded.
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