The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral disc disease, degenerative joint disease of the left knee and degenerative joint disease of the right ankle as secondary to his service-connected disabilities of the left foot and right knee.
The deciding factor: The August 2005 VA examination report indicated that the veteran's claimed conditions could not be related to his service-connected disabilities without resorting to speculation, and there was no other evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbosacral disc disease, Degenerative joint disease of the left knee, Degenerative joint disease of the right ankle
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 9, 2009
- Citation
- 0900949
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the right ankle but granted a separate rating for instability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development to ensure that the severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is accurately assessed without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance, effective December 8, 2025.
- Granted
The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's degenerative spondylosis at L5-S1, left and right shoulder disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, and depressive disorder.
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