The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the hands, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and cervical spine spondylosis (neck disability) have been granted higher initial ratings as of January 1, 2012.
The deciding factor: The VA examination confirmed the Veteran's diagnosis of degenerative arthritis in his hands and found no nexus between this claimed disability and his service. However, given the Veteran's credible reports of continuity of symptoms since his service and eventual diagnosis, the evidence is at least in relative balance regarding whether these symptoms originated during his service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the hands, Lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), Left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, Cervical spine spondylosis (neck disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 6, 2022
- Citation
- 22056623
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 22056623.
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 degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis with L3-L5 disc herniation (lumbar disability), left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. The Board found that these conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of loss of use resulting from his disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain relevant private medical records for the cervical spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right hip disability, and left hip disability.,The AOJ failed to undertake appropriate efforts to obtain these records prior to issuance of the December 24, 2019, or January 24, 2020, AOJ decisions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and duty-to-assist errors.
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