The Board denied service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease and low back disorder as there was no credible medical evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current conditions and his active service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the veteran's current back condition was directly related to post-service workplace injuries, not to service. For the left knee, the first documented complaint was nearly 21 years after discharge from active service, with no credible medical evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current conditions and his active service.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee degenerative joint disease, low back disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 5, 2009
- Citation
- 0904123
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for a low back disorder to obtain additional medical evidence and ensure that the Veteran is afforded every possible consideration.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a low back disorder was dismissed as the RO granted service connection in a November 2023 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a low back disorder to obtain additional evidence and an adequate medical opinion in compliance with previous remand instructions.
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