The Board has granted service connection for degenerative changes in the right and left ankles, as well as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The disability ratings have been increased to 20 percent effective October 31, 2013.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found that the Veteran's current ankle and lumbar spine disabilities are not related to service, but medical opinions from treating physicians supported the claims. The Board granted service connection based on an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the disabilities relate to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative changes in the right ankle, Degenerative changes in the left ankle, Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 11, 2024
- Citation
- 24034172
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 24034172.
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 Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine was granted with effective dates of May 13, 2019.
- Granted
The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was diagnosed during service and has continued since then. The Board granted service connection for this condition based on continuity of symptomatology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need for a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, is related to service and granted service connection for this condition.
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