The Veteran's L4-5 degenerative disc disease is granted an initial rating of 20 percent effective January 11, 2016. Service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and thrombocytopenia are granted. The left knee disability and bilateral ankle disabilities are denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's L4-5 degenerative disc disease was found to meet the criteria for a 20 percent rating from January 11, 2016 onwards due to guarding or spasm resulting in an abnormal gait. Service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and thrombocytopenia were granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents in service.
- Claimed conditions
- L4-5 degenerative disc disease, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee disability, bilateral ankle disabilities, thrombocytopenia, erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 8, 2023
- Citation
- 23014103
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 23014103.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Dismissed
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has expanded the scope of the claim for major depression to encompass any mental health disability raised by the record and has remanded six issues for additional development.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
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