The Board granted service connection for right wrist degenerative arthritis, left wrist degenerative arthritis, right elbow degenerative arthritis, left elbow degenerative arthritis, right knee osteoarthritis (diagnosed as right knee arthritic changes), and left knee osteoarthritis (diagnosed as left knee arthritic changes) on a direct basis.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's right wrist degenerative arthritis, left wrist degenerative arthritis, right elbow degenerative arthritis, left elbow degenerative arthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis were all incurred in service. As the reasonable doubt created by this relative equipoise in the evidence of record must be resolved in the Veteran's favor, entitlement to service connection for these 6 disabilities is warranted.
- Claimed conditions
- right wrist degenerative arthritis, left wrist degenerative arthritis, right elbow degenerative arthritis, left elbow degenerative arthritis, right knee osteoarthritis (diagnosed as right knee arthritic changes), left knee osteoarthritis (diagnosed as left knee arthritic changes)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- May 13, 2025
- Citation
- A25042877
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection of left elbow, right elbow, and right thumb degenerative arthritis to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion addressing direct causation and aggravation by service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for left elbow degenerative arthritis, but no higher.
- Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for various conditions and denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and a vestibular disorder. An initial rating of 10 percent was granted for right ankle degenerative arthritis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for various degenerative arthritic conditions of multiple joints and the lower back, as additional evidence is needed.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.