The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative changes in various joints, finding that new and material evidence was received. The Board determined that these conditions are related to a pre-existing left hip condition.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the current degenerative changes in multiple joints are secondary to the veteran's service-connected left hip disability.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative changes in the left forefinger joint, degenerative changes in the back, degenerative changes in the cervical spine (claimed as neck), degenerative changes in the left knee, degenerative changes in the left big toe, degenerative changes in the left hand, degenerative changes in the right thumb
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 5, 2009
- Citation
- 0921155
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 0921155.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as degenerative changes, is not related to service including any injury sustained during qualifying periods of service in the National Guard and the Reserves. Therefore, his claim for service connection for a back disability is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development and review, including obtaining additional VA medical records and a VA examination to address the Veteran's left knee disorder. The issue of service connection for cracked #9 tooth is also referred back to the RO for issuance of an SOC.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, but denied service connection for a left knee disorder.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the veteran's postoperative residuals of a torn left medial meniscus, including limitation of motion, warrant a 20 percent rating. The current 10 percent rating for cartilage removal and arthritis with limitation of motion is maintained.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.