The Veteran's spine disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities. His bilateral hearing loss appeal was withdrawn during the hearing. The RO assigned a 30% rating for his right and left knee disabilities following total knee arthroplasties.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current back disability is proximately due to or caused by his service-connected knee disabilities, as evidenced by medical records indicating that his antalgic gait resulted in abnormal biomechanical pressures on his lumbar spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Spine disability, Left knee arthritis, Right knee arthritis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- January 21, 2015
- Citation
- 1502899
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 1502899.
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 evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right leg/knee condition is related to service, including a preexisting condition. The Veteran provided testimony and new medical records that may be relevant.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as she withdrew her appeal prior to the Board making a decision.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted, including back disability, tinea pedis and tinea unguium, right foot degenerative changes, left hip disability, left knee arthritis, and psychiatric disabilities. The Board also found that the bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is secondary to his back disability.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis. The claims for PTSD and radiculopathy are remanded.
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