The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that it is aggravated by his service-connected residuals of head trauma and bilateral leg disabilities. The decision also grants increased ratings for the Veteran's bilateral leg disabilities and finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU rating based on his combined disability rating.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is aggravated by his service-connected residuals of head trauma and bilateral leg disabilities, warranting service connection. The increased ratings were granted as the Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU based on his combined disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, residuals of head trauma with neurologic condition, right lower extremity, residuals of head trauma with neurologic condition, left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- June 16, 2010
- Citation
- 1022364
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 1022364.
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 Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, as there is no current disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left shoulder, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The appeal was also granted to reopen a claim for service connection for bilateral hip disability.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to service-connected conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, hypertension, and migraine headaches to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
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