The Board has granted service connection for left knee tricompartmental degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine disability (DDD, degenerative spondylolisthesis, IVDS, arachnoiditis of the cauda equina, and multilevel disc bulging with neural foraminal narrowing), and cervical spine disability (cervical myelopathy, status post C4-5, C5-6 discectomy and fusion, and multilevel degenerative and discogenic disease with neural foraminal narrowing and spinal canal narrowing) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.,The Board found that there is a causal relationship between the Veteran’s service-connected right knee disability and his thoracolumbar spine disability (DDD, degenerative spondylolisthesis, IVDS, arachnoiditis of the cauda equina, and multilevel disc bulging with neural foraminal narrowing) and cervical spine disability (cervical myelopathy, status post C4-5, C5-6 discectomy and fusion, and multilevel degenerative and discogenic disease with neural foraminal narrowing and spinal canal narrowing).
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability caused or aggravated his thoracolumbar spine disability (DDD, degenerative spondylolisthesis, IVDS, arachnoiditis of the cauda equina, and multilevel disc bulging with neural foraminal narrowing) and cervical spine disability (cervical myelopathy, status post C4-5, C5-6 discectomy and fusion, and multilevel degenerative and discogenic disease with neural foraminal narrowing and spinal canal narrowing).
- Claimed conditions
- left knee tricompartmental degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine disability (DDD, degenerative spondylolisthesis, IVDS, arachnoiditis of the cauda equina, and multilevel disc bulging with neural foraminal narrowing), cervical spine disability (cervical myelopathy, status post C4-5, C5-6 discectomy and fusion, and multilevel degenerative and discogenic disease with neural foraminal narrowing and spinal canal narrowing)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 26, 2018
- Citation
- 18121082
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18121082.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran is seeking to have the June 2010 rating decision, which denied service connection for left knee tricompartmental degenerative joint disease, revised due to clear and unmistakable error. The appeal involves allegations of CUE in the original decision based on a May 2010 VA examiner's opinion linking the Veteran's condition to military service. The Board is remanding the case to obtain clarification on the dates of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee conditions is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of regulatory changes.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee tricompartmental degenerative joint disease was denied. The Board found that the disability did not exceed a noncompensable (0%) evaluation, as it was consistent with the pre-aggravation extent of disability. For TDIU, the criteria were met due to multiple service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.
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