The Veteran's low back strain with degenerative changes and chronic bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome are found to have started during service and continue since then, warranting service connection.,The Veteran's right eye disorder is not considered a disease or injury within the meaning of applicable legislation due to its congenital nature. The Board finds that there is no evidence linking any additional disability to service.
The deciding factor: Service treatment records document the onset and progression of low back strain with degenerative changes and chronic bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome during active duty, which are found to have started in service.,The Veteran's right eye disorder is considered a congenital defect rather than an injury or disease within the meaning of applicable legislation. The absence of any evidence linking any additional disability to service precludes granting service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back strain with degenerative changes, Chronic bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome, Refractive error of the right eye
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- December 19, 2011
- Citation
- 1146205
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 1146205.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal of the proposed reduction from 30 percent to 10 percent for GERD is dismissed. The appeal of a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for low back strain with degenerative changes is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation prior to October 22, 2020.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his bilateral upper extremity and back disabilities were denied. The rating for ulnar nerve entrapment at elbow (left upper extremity) was denied as the disability did not meet the criteria for a greater than 20 percent rating. Similarly, the rating for carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve entrapment at elbow (right upper extremity) was also denied. The rating for low back strain with degenerative changes was denied due to lack of evidence showing severe incomplete paralysis or ankylosis.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) from May 1, 2011. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.
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