The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the knees and thoracolumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.
The deciding factor: The Board found credible evidence supporting the Veteran’s claims, including medical opinions linking his arthritis to his duties as a paratrooper during service.
- Claimed conditions
- osteoarthritis of the knees, osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20081097
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the low back and knees, as well as increased ratings for prostatitis and epididymitis, tinea versicolor, tinea pedis, and tinea cruris, a shell fragment wound to the left shoulder and upper back, a shell fragment wound scar of the upper left arm, and a right inguinal hernia. The veteran was granted special monthly compensation based on being housebound.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.