The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disability, small airway disease as secondary to asbestos exposure, and right flank muscle spasm (back disability). The decision found that there was no current disability for the left ankle claim and insufficient evidence linking the small airway disease to service. The back disability claim is pending due to incomplete records.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the veteran did not have a well-grounded claim for his left ankle disability as there was no current disability documented in the record. For the small airway disease, the Board found insufficient evidence linking it to service exposure. The right flank muscle spasm (back disability) claim is pending due to incomplete records from the West Side Walk-in Clinic.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle disability, small airway disease, right flank muscle spasm (back disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 13, 2000
- Citation
- 0009905
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 0009905.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, back disability, and other conditions as there is no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's military service.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions of the left and right hands, shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, ankles, and foot, but granted service connection for a right knee disability and fibromyalgia. The decision was based on medical evidence that did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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