The Board has granted service connection for arthritis in the left hand and degenerative joint disease (DJD) in the thoracolumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's symptoms have been continuous since service separation.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran experienced continuous symptoms of arthritis in the left hand and DJD in the thoracolumbar spine since service separation, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis in the left hand, degenerative joint disease (DJD) in the thoracolumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 3, 2021
- Citation
- 21006232
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 21006232.
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 ordered a remand due to the inadequacy of the February 2013 VA medical opinion, which did not explain why the Veteran's age at the time of his examination was relevant or why the lack of ongoing chronic treatment for frostbite indicated that the current diagnosis was unrelated to the in-service frostbite.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for arthritis in the right hand and DJD in the thoracolumbar spine are granted. The claim for arthritis in the left hand is denied as it was not caused by or worsened by the service-connected right shoulder DJD.
- Granted
The Veteran's appeal to reopen service connection for residuals of a left distal radius fracture is granted. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a left distal radius fracture with arthritis.
- Denied
The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current left hand/wrist disorder and therefore, service connection cannot be granted.
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