The Board denied service connection for left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and bilateral leg pain as there was no evidence of a current disability or continuity of symptomatology since service. The claim for low back disorder was withdrawn by the veteran.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence linking the claimed conditions to the veteran's active duty service, nor is there evidence of a chronic condition during service that persisted after discharge from service.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, bilateral leg pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2009
- Citation
- 0901589
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection and rating issues, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these matters.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a chronic undiagnosed illness manifested by bilateral leg pain, bilateral hand tremors, sinus problems, shortness of breath and recurrent transient ear noise due to Gulf War service. Service connection was denied for CFS.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for pes planus (flat feet) and remanded several other issues, including service connection for various disorders and increased ratings for the right knee. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right knee instability.
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