The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lower spine, left knee meniscal tear, and right hip strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left great toe fracture residuals with degenerative joint disease and hallux rigidus.
The deciding factor: The evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether the claimed disabilities are caused or aggravated by the service-connected left great toe disability, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the lower spine, Left knee meniscal tear, Right hip strain
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 22, 2025
- Citation
- A25036820
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,861 · Granted: 27% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A25036820.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities with meniscal tears have been granted separate 20 percent ratings for right and left knees. The remaining issues of increased ratings are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip strain is secondary to his service-connected left shin splint and bilateral knee disabilities. However, the opinion provided by the VA did not adequately address causation or aggravation of the right hip strain due to these conditions. The case is therefore being remanded for further analysis.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions leave her in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has been received since the August 2020 rating decision, warranting readjudication of the previously denied claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine (also claimed as a neck condition), lumbosacral strain, left hip strain, right hip strain, and right knee strain.
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