The July 17, 2019 rating decision was revised to grant service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine and flat feet due to errors in applying presumptive service connection provisions.
The deciding factor: The RO failed to apply the chronic disease presumptions for arthritis of the lumbar spine diagnosed within a year of separation from active service, leading to clear legal error.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis of the lumbar spine, flat feet
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2024
- Citation
- A24026585
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 A24026585.
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 PTSD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, unspecified psychosis, arthritis of the lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease, multilevel spinal stenosis, and arthritis of the cervical spine and degenerative disc disease. The diagnoses are linked to in-service physical assaults.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, flat feet, unspecified anxiety disorder, and bottom lip scar.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions including back pain, flat feet, impaired eyesight, joint pain, neck pain, and sleep apnea.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome, radiculopathy left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), and radiculopathy right lower extremity (sciatic nerve), right shoulder condition, and flat feet. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.