The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis and left hip replacement are granted as service-connected. The Board finds that the Veteran's back and neck disorders, if present, are at least as likely as not due to her service-connected rheumatoid arthritis.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence supports a finding of aggravation of the Veteran's preexisting rheumatoid arthritis during active duty, leading to the need for hip replacement. The Board also finds that any back and neck disorders are at least as likely as not related to her service-connected rheumatoid arthritis.
- Claimed conditions
- Rheumatoid Arthritis, Left Hip Replacement
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- February 24, 2010
- Citation
- 1006772
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 1006772.
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 appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The left hip replacement did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and no separate or higher ratings were assigned under other diagnostic codes.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance from March 24, 2017.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, rheumatoid arthritis, and a compensable disability evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bilateral upper extremities pain, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), and squamous cell carcinoma of the anus as secondary to service-connected hepatitis C. However, psoriatic arthritis was denied.
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