The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for arthritis/degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, right hand, left hand, right knee, and left knee based on continuity of symptomatology since service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran experienced 'continuous' symptoms of disabilities of the back, neck, hands, and knees since service separation, which is sufficient to meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis/DJD of the thoracolumbar spine, Arthritis/DJD of the cervical spine, Arthritis of the right hand, Arthritis of the left hand, Arthritis of the right knee, Arthritis of the left knee
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 19, 2016
- Citation
- 1615785
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 1615785.
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 remands the claims for further development and clarification regarding the severity of the Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities, specifically to determine if the Veteran has experienced 'the functional equivalent of range of motion loss contemplated by the next higher rating' at any point during the appeal period.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disease including myocarditis and pericarditis, hypertension, and pancreatitis as secondary to alcoholism due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. Service connection was also granted for left ear hearing loss and arthritis of the left hand on a direct basis.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and bilateral tinnitus. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied. Other claims were either granted or remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's arthritis of both knees is not related to an injury or disease incurred in active service and has not been caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.
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