The Veteran's service-connected left ankle shin splints are granted a 10 percent rating, while his back disability is denied. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for a right knee disability is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability was not related to active service based on the lack of in-service treatment for a herniated disc, the absence of relevant pre-service medical history, and the long gap between in-service upper back pain and post-service onset of symptoms. The left ankle shin splints were granted due to painful shin motion on ambulation.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle shin splints, back disability (spondylosis of the mid-thoracic spine, degenerative arthritis of the spine), right knee disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 12, 2024
- Citation
- 24002075
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for further development and consideration of evidence not previously considered.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right knee, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability but denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for his left knee disability prior to April 25, 2019.
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