The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and elbow DJD, lumbar spine DDD, and cervical spine DDD. The appeal of his increased rating claims are dismissed.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided an opinion that it is as likely as not that the Veteran’s current shoulder, elbow, cervical, and lumbar conditions are related to the blast injuries sustained during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the left shoulder, Degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the left elbow, Lumbar spine multilevel spondylosis L5-S1 degenerative disc disease (DDD), Cervical spine DDD
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 22, 2018
- Citation
- 18104425
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 18104425.
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 service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, DJD of the left shoulder, and a right foot disability to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The Board has found that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence of record.
- Denied
The Board found that withholding VA compensation benefits to recoup separation pay in the amount of $13,958.15 was proper and denied the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability but has remanded the issue of service connection for arthritis of the whole body. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is found to be as likely as not caused by parachute jumps and other activities during his service.
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