The Veteran's left knee disability, including tendinitis and osteoarthritis, began during his last period of active service.,His right hand and left hand disabilities are presumed to have existed prior to service. The right hand disability was aggravated by service, while the left hand disability did not undergo an increase in severity during service.,The Veteran's lumbar spine strain is presumed to have existed prior to service and began during his last period of active service.,His right knee disability, including tendinitis and osteoarthritis, preexisted service but was aggravated by service. The left ear status post tympanoplasty disability began during active service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current diagnoses are consistent with his reported symptoms and STRs show treatment for the conditions in question.,There is no evidence of an increase in severity of the right hand and left hand disabilities during service, but there is evidence that the right knee disability was aggravated by service. The left ear status post tympanoplasty began during active service.,The Veteran's lumbar spine strain is presumed to have existed prior to service based on STRs showing treatment for lower back spasm in his last period of active service.,The right knee disability preexisted service but was aggravated by service, as evidenced by the Veteran being cleared for deployment with no limitations listed and his subsequent filing of a claim for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee tendinitis, left knee osteoarthritis, right hand arthritis, left hand arthritis, lumbar spine strain, right knee medial meniscus tear, right knee osteoarthritis, left ear status post tympanoplasty
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 4, 2018
- Citation
- 18108069
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 18108069.
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
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