The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims and found that there is new and material evidence to support service connection for a left hand disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and neck disorder. The diagnoses are supported by private medical records and VA examinations. The in-service injuries have been established, and the relationship between current disabilities and service has also been established.
The deciding factor: The new evidence includes private treatment records that provide current diagnoses of left hand contracture and lumbar central canal stenosis L5-S1, which are related to in-service injuries as evidenced by the Veteran's testimony and STRs showing multiple low back pain complaints and MVA-related injuries. The Board found these relationships reasonable based on the medical opinions provided.
- Claimed conditions
- left hand disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, neck disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- December 21, 2017
- Citation
- 1759493
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 1759493.
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 the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination and medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's low back disorder and bilateral hip disorder are related to his service-connected Crohn's disease.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disorder, skin disorder, tongue condition, right chest costochondritis, and right hand shaking due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
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