The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection of degenerative disc disease with degenerative joint disease and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine was granted. The appeal is granted in part, as the Veteran's left knee patellar tendonitis with limitation of flexion and osteoarthritis and right knee patellar tendonitis with limitation of flexion and osteoarthritis are both remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: New evidence received since the last final denial supports reopening the claim for service connection, but no new rating is granted as the Veteran's current ratings meet the criteria under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease with degenerative joint disease and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, Left knee patellar tendonitis with limitation of flexion and osteoarthritis, Right knee patellar tendonitis with limitation of flexion and osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20033629
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 20033629.
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 has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any related exposure.
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