The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint and degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine, with right femoral and sciatic nerve radiculopathy status post lumbar fusion and residual scar, as well as his service-connected degenerative disc and degenerative joint disease, cervical spine, with left radiculopathy status post compression fracture C5 and cervical fusion with residual scar, have been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected right knee medial and lateral meniscal tears, anterior cruciate ligament tear, and tricompartmental osteoarthritis has also been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected right heel injury (Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis) has been granted.,The Veteran's service connection for a headache disability secondary to his now service-connected cervical spine disabilities has been granted.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established based on the current diagnoses of the Veteran’s spinal conditions, including degenerative joint and degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine, with right femoral and sciatic nerve radiculopathy status post lumbar fusion and residual scar, as well as his service-connected cervical spine disabilities. The medical opinions provided by VA and private physicians supported these diagnoses.,Service connection was established based on the current diagnoses of the Veteran’s knee condition, including medial and lateral meniscal tears, anterior cruciate ligament tear, and tricompartmental osteoarthritis. The medical opinions provided by VA and private physicians supported these diagnoses.,Service connection was established based on the current diagnoses of the Veteran’s heel injury, including Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis. The medical opinions provided by VA and private physicians supported these diagnoses.,Service connection was established based on the current diagnoses of the Veteran's headache disability, which is considered secondary to his now service-connected cervical spine disabilities. The medical opinions provided by VA and private physicians supported this diagnosis.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint and degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine, Right femoral and sciatic nerve radiculopathy status post lumbar fusion and residual scar, Degenerative disc and degenerative joint disease, cervical spine, Left radiculopathy status post compression fracture C5 and cervical fusion with residual scar, Right knee medial and lateral meniscal tears, anterior cruciate ligament tear, and tricompartmental osteoarthritis, Right heel injury (Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis), Headache disability (cervicogenic headaches and migraine variants)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 17, 2018
- Citation
- 18142898
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 18142898.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including cervical spine, chronic fatigue, and various nerve damages, as the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability related to in-service events.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements and explaining the etiology of her additional right knee injury.
- Granted
The Board granted a 10 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine, finding that there was functional loss due to pain causing additional disability beyond that reflected on range of motion measurements.
- Denied
The Board denied the appeal for entitlement to a finding of total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on a single service-connected disability, namely service-connected thoracolumbar spine or left lower extremity radiculopathy.
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