The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and congestive heart failure as secondary to hypertension. The Veteran's lower back disability, initially rated as lumbar osteoarthritis, is now rated at 40 percent from May 20, 2014, to December 21, 2017, with a 20 percent rating thereafter for cervical spine degenerative disc disease. The left knee strain with shin splints remains at a non-compensable rating.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and congestive heart failure are service-connected as they were proximately due to or the result of his service-connected hypertension, and he has established continuity of symptoms since service. The lower back disability was rated based on its current manifestations, with a 40 percent rating from May 20, 2014, to December 21, 2017, and a 20 percent rating thereafter. The left knee strain with shin splints remains at a non-compensable rating.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertension, congestive heart failure, lower back disability, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, left knee strain with shin splints
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 7, 2018
- Citation
- 18156283
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 18156283.
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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- Denied
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