The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received, and to that extent only, the reopening of the claim for service connection for a back disability is granted. The Veteran's back disability (including osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease) was found to be secondary to his service-connected left anterior cruciate ligament repair.
The deciding factor: The new evidence includes VA treatment records that showed diagnoses of osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease, which were not previously considered in the prior denial. The Board found this evidence sufficient to reopen the claim as it relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- back disability, osteoarthritis (OA), degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 12, 2018
- Citation
- 18157253
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 18157253.
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 issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding VA's failure to provide the Veteran with a VA examination prior to the rating decision.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, back disability, and other conditions as there is no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's military service.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and shortness of breath as untimely. The claim for a back disability was remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Veteran was awarded service connection for allergic rhinitis based on the PACT Act, but an earlier effective date prior to August 10, 2022, is not warranted.
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