The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder impingement syndrome, right elbow degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left knee degenerative joint disease have been granted initial disability ratings. The GERD has also been granted a higher initial disability rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were found to meet the criteria for the assigned disability ratings based on their severity as determined by the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine (lumbar spine disability), Right lower extremity radiculopathy, Right shoulder impingement syndrome (right shoulder disability), Left shoulder impingement syndrome (left shoulder disability), Right elbow degenerative joint disease (right elbow disability), Right knee degenerative joint disease (right knee disability), Left knee degenerative joint disease (left knee disability), Right foot plantar fasciitis with degenerative joint disease (right foot disability), Left foot plantar fasciitis with degenerative joint disease (left foot disability), Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19167772
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 19167772.
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 Veteran's appeal for service connection for Dupuytren's contracture of the left hand, right hand, and GERD is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and failure to consider toxic exposure risk activities during service.
- Denied
The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, but the Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that both conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back condition and sinusitis, respectively.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for bladder cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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