The Veteran's service connection claims for various back, neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hip conditions are granted. The claim for bilateral deafness is denied.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established based on the normal aging process rather than in-service injury or disease due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between current disabilities and military service.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic low back pain, DDD of the lumbar spine L5-S1, L2-L3, L3-L4, L4-L5, with spondylosis, chronic myositis para-lumbar spine muscles, chronic cervical spine pain, chronic myositis para-cervical spine muscles, right shoulder degenerative joint disease (DJD), left shoulder DJD, right elbow DJD, left elbow DJD, right wrist DJD, left wrist DJD, right hip calcific tendinopathy, left hip calcific tendinopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- June 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20039262
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 20039262.
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 decided to remand the case due to predecisional duty-to-assist errors, including inadequate medical opinions and missed VA examinations. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition is being returned to the RO for further action.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic low back pain was incurred in service and continues to this day, granting her claim for service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's thoracolumbar disorder, including arthritis, thoracic spine scoliosis with degenerative changes, DDD, and chronic low back pain, is granted service connection. Service connection for a cervical strain is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient rationale in the June 2019 VA opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion from a qualified individual to address whether the Veteran's left and right shoulder, and bilateral elbow conditions are related to his military service, specifically including exposure to hazardous materials while serving in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.
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