The Veteran's service-connected joint pain due to undiagnosed illness is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 40 percent.,Service connection for degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine and bilateral knee disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected joint pain.
The deciding factor: The June 2013 VA examination concluded that the nonservice-connected lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities are permanently aggravated beyond natural progression by the Veteran's undiagnosed Gulf War illness, which is due to his service-connected joint pain.
- Claimed conditions
- Joint Pain Due to Undiagnosed Illness, Degenerative Disease of the Lumbosacral Spine, Bilateral Degenerative Joint Disease of the Knees
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- September 17, 2013
- Citation
- 1329785
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 1329785.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD and restored a 40 percent rating for degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine, while denying increased ratings for other conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the March 2022 remand directives and the claims are being returned for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to the possibility of missing original claims filed at the time of his discharge in September 1992.
- Denied
The Veteran's hip, knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities are not service connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after service. The Veteran's bowel and bladder incontinence is also not service connected due to lack of a nexus between the condition and her military service.
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