The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine, left knee, and left ankle disorders as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left foot disorder. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus is also granted.
The deciding factor: Service treatment records were negative for chronic left knee/left ankle conditions or complaints regarding the low back. The Board found that current medical evidence supports a relationship between the Veteran’s lumbar spine, left knee, and left ankle disorders to his service-connected left foot disorder due to an altered gait caused by the disability.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 18, 2018
- Citation
- 18159132
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 18159132.
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 has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
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