The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and left ankle disorder as they were not etiologically related to active service or a service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: Competent medical evidence did not relate the veteran's currently diagnosed lumbar spondylosis, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral knees, and left ankle to service or his service-connected right ankle sprain.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back disorder, Bilateral knee disorder, Left ankle disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 26, 2009
- Citation
- 0907267
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 appeal was denied for service connection of a cervical spine disorder, and several claims were remanded for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a low back disorder to correct duty to assist errors, as the previous VA examinations and opinions are inadequate.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hearing loss, psychiatric disorder, neck disorder, and radiculopathy of both upper and lower extremities to correct duty-to-assist errors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of a disability rating for a low back disorder and entitlement to TDIU due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.
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