The Board granted service connection for a back disability, to include arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected residuals of accidental gunshot wound. The left knee disability issue was remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The evidence supporting a nexus between the Veteran's service-connected residuals of accidental gunshot wound and his claimed back disability is at least in equipoise with that against the claim, thus granting service connection on a secondary basis. The left knee disability issue requires additional development before a decision can be made.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine, left knee disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- May 21, 2025
- Citation
- 25006966
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 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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, radiculopathies, a bladder disability, headaches, a left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral conjunctivitis. The Board also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.
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