The Board found no current disability of either knee and denied service connection for bilateral knee arthritis. The left ankle fracture was also denied as the pre-service injury did not aggravate during service.
The deciding factor: There is clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's left ankle fracture occurred prior to service, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence showing any increase in severity of the pre-existing condition during service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral knee arthritis, left ankle fracture
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 19, 2010
- Citation
- 1026779
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 1026779.
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 an increased rating for thoracolumbar strain but granted a compensable rating for GERD, and denied service connection for left knee strain and bilateral knee arthritis.
- Dismissed
The appeal of whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen a claim of service connection for a left ankle fracture is dismissed. The Board will consider the Veteran's claims for service connection for a brain tumor and heart disease related to in-service exposure to commercial herbicides, PCBs, and asbestos.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to June 24, 2014, as the evidence demonstrated that he was able to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation despite service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral cataracts, melanoma, and bilateral knee arthritis based on the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during his service.
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