The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease was a but-for cause of his thoracolumbar spine condition.
The deciding factor: The Board found there is at least an approximate balance of evidence that the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is a but-for cause of the diagnosed degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 16, 2024
- Citation
- A24066104
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 appeal challenging the propriety of the reduction in the rating for the Veteran's low back disability from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective July 1, 2024, is granted; restoration of a 20 percent rating from the effective date of the reduction is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings and TDIU for further development, including new VA examinations.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for CRDP payments prior to September 1, 2014 was denied. The Board also found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and ordered the RO to send the Veteran a notification letter regarding an October 2017 audit indicating he was entitled to a retroactive compensation payment of $984.00 for the period from January 2017 to May 2017.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to traumatic brain injury, thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease, migraine headaches, and left eyebrow scar is granted. The claims for right arm condition, left arm condition, diabetes mellitus, bilateral foot condition, sleep condition, neck condition, and prostate cancer are denied.
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