The Veteran's low back, thoracic outlet syndrome (right side), and left ankle disabilities are all granted as service-connected.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least in equipoise regarding the onset of these conditions during service and their persistence since then.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar strain, Right-sided thoracic outlet syndrome with associated complaints of right shoulder and back pain, misaligned ribs on the right side, and loss of use of the right hand, Sprain during service resulting in left ankle weakness and inability to bend as well as the right side.
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19196175
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 19196175.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted an increased disability rating of 40 percent for thoracolumbar strain, restored the 50 percent disability rating for bilateral pes planus, and restored basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes. The Board also granted an initial 20 percent rating for thoracolumbar strain effective from February 8, 2010.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, right middle finger injury, vaginal disorder, hemorrhoids, and thoracolumbar strain.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a TDIU and dismissed the proposal to combine service connection for patellofemoral syndrome, right knee limitation of extension with residuals of right knee total arthroplasty.
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