The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee degenerative joint diseases are granted. The cervical spine disability, neurological impairment of the upper extremities, and neurological impairment of the lower extremities are remanded for further examination and opinion. The initial ratings for left ankle degenerative joint disease and residuals of a right thumb sprain are also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disabilities have been found to be at least as likely as not proximately due to his service-connected left ankle disability, which is the primary cause of his antalgic gait. The neurological impairment of the upper and lower extremities are also remanded for further examination and opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, left hip degenerative joint disease, right hip degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 26, 2020
- Citation
- 20069026
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of service connection and denied increased ratings for various disabilities, but granted a separate rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy from October 20, 2020.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, bilateral achilles tendonitis, gout, diabetes mellitus, type 2 (DMII), obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depression. The Board denied increased ratings for right and left knee degenerative joint disease, separate ratings for instability of the knees, a separate rating for residuals of a right knee meniscectomy, and service connection for bilateral leg pain, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic sinus disability, respiratory disability due to exposure to asbestos, heart murmur, irregular heartbeat, and seizures.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for right knee subluxation and degenerative joint disease due to an inadequate addendum opinion.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and SMC based on loss of use of the bilateral lower extremities.
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