The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the bilateral hips and shoulders, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service parachute jumps. However, the Board denied service connection for arthritis of the bilateral wrists and elbows due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was granted for arthritis of the bilateral hips and shoulders based on a positive nexus opinion from Dr. R.F.K., who noted that the Veteran's in-service parachute jumps could have set the stage for his declining musculoskeletal health.
The deciding factor: The Board found that while there is evidence linking arthritis of the hips and shoulders to service, no such link was established for the wrists and elbows.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis of the bilateral hips, Arthritis of the bilateral shoulders, Arthritis of the bilateral wrists, Arthritis of the bilateral elbows
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 19, 2017
- Citation
- 1758967
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 1758967.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's GERD and OSA are being remanded for further examination to determine their etiology. His arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, bilateral knees, ankles, and hips is also being remanded due to lack of a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that a disability rating greater than 50 percent for other specified trauma and stress-related disorder is denied, service connection for arthritis of the bilateral knees, shoulders, hands, hips, elbows, and ankles is granted, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder has been remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been determined to be permanently disabling, allowing for eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits since March 3, 2008.
- Denied
The Board found that arthritis of the bilateral hands and arthritis of the bilateral shoulders are not related to active service, thus denying these claims.
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