The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a rib injury and compression fractures L1-L2 are secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The evidence supports the Veteran's reports of falls caused by his left knee, leading to injuries in both his right ribs and back.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lay statements regarding falls due to his left knee were credible and consistent with medical records showing multiple instances of falling related to his left knee issues prior to 2007. The compression fractures L1-L2 are found to be secondary to the fall resulting from his service-connected left knee disability.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a rib injury, compression fractures L1-L2
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- July 17, 2017
- Citation
- 1727676
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 1727676.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including residuals of a rib injury, left ankle injury, lower extremity sciatica, hypertension, blurred vision, chest pain, and kidney disease, as there was no current diagnosis or evidence of related functional impairment.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues related to residuals of a rib injury, migraines, back strains (claimed as thoracic spine condition), tinnitus, increased rating for Meniere's Disease, and increased rating for depression.
- Denied
The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a rib injury, including arthritis secondary to broken ribs and sternum; residuals of a left knee injury with chondromalacia; and a neck disability, including residuals of a neck injury with disc and nerve damage. As such, these claims remain denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a rib injury, and hepatitis C. The decision found that current evidence did not meet the criteria for disability due to hearing loss in the right ear, left ear hearing loss was not chronic in service or within one year post-service separation, and there was no nexus between any diagnosed conditions and service.
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