The Veteran's pseudophakia of the left eye is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's interstitial lung disease is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's costochondritis secondary to his interstitial lung disease is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is granted as service connected.
The deciding factor: All elements for service connection are met, including a current disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation, and causal relationship to service. The positive nexus opinions outweigh the negative opinion.,The Veteran's interstitial lung disease is found to have been incurred during active duty due to an upper respiratory infection and bronchitis while in service.,Costochondritis is determined to be secondary to the Veteran's interstitial lung disease, which had its onset during service. The positive nexus opinions outweigh the negative opinion.,The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is found to have been incurred during active duty due to a physical assault and has not been aggravated by his interstitial lung disease.
- Claimed conditions
- Pseudophakia of the left eye, Interstitial lung disease, Costochondritis, Degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 13, 2022
- Citation
- 22040209
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 22040209.
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 determined that the VA examiner's opinion regarding service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is incomplete and requires further clarification. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service, including two claimed inservice collision injuries.
- Granted
The reduction in rating for the Veteran's back condition from 40% to 20%, effective September 1, 2025 is improper and void ab initio. The petition to reverse this reduction is granted. An increased rating for costochondritis is denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 18, 2012, for a finding of total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The Board found that the Veteran was not unemployable within one year prior to his July 18, 2012, claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial compensable rating for costochondritis is denied, and the Board has remanded his claim of service connection for a headache condition.
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