The Board has granted service connection for right hip arthritis, left hip arthritis, right hand arthritis, and left hand arthritis. Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is also granted. The claim for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a service-connected low back condition remains pending.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence supported the conclusion that the Veteran's hip and hand conditions were at least as likely as not caused by his active service, including through normal aging processes. For GERD, the Board noted that there was no in-service diagnosis or treatment for GERD but did find a possible connection to TERA exposure. The claim for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy remains pending due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Hip Arthritis, Left Hip Arthritis, Right Hand Arthritis, Left Hand Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 16, 2024
- Citation
- A24083758
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 A24083758.
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
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip arthritis is service-connected as it began during his active service and has persisted since then.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied an increased rating for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and has found the Veteran's right hand arthritis claim to be remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The decision on the right hand arthritis claim will need to be reconsidered after obtaining necessary medical opinions.
- Partly granted
The appeal was dismissed for the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, and service connection for migraine headaches was restored. Several claims for service connection were denied.
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