The Veteran's autoimmune disorder and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis are granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran had symptoms of an autoimmune disorder during service, which is considered direct service connection. The bilateral knee arthritis was also found to be aggravated by the service-connected autoimmune disorder.
The deciding factor: The Veteran presented with symptoms of an autoimmune disorder in service and these persisted post-service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection. The bilateral knee degenerative arthritis was found to have been aggravated by the service-connected autoimmune disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- undifferentiated connective tissue disease, bilateral knee degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- September 3, 2020
- Citation
- 20058423
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 20058423.
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 granted service connection for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service and are related to his active duty.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for undifferentiated connective tissue disease, finding that it is proximately due to her service-connected Hashimoto's thyroiditis and resolving reasonable doubt in her favor.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to incomplete information and the need for further examination. The AOJ will gather necessary employment history, Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits information, and a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative arthritis and acquired psychiatric disabilities, specifically ADHD and generalized anxiety disorder. The VA must obtain addendum opinions addressing these issues.
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