The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is related to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The Board finds that the Veteran's statements are credible and consistent with other medical evidence, supporting a finding that his back pain is caused by his altered gait mechanics resulting from his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, Bilateral hearing loss, Diabetes mellitus, Depression
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 27, 2010
- Citation
- 1032304
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 1032304.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient findings regarding PTSD and depression, requiring a new VA examination.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the AOJ's handling of the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, and depression. The AOJ is required to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor and obtain medical opinions regarding the diagnoses and their relation to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals of the initial ratings for his service-connected chronic cough and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to procedural errors in the evidentiary record.
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