The Board finds that the Veteran's current disabilities, including closed head injury, orbital and maxillary fractures, cervical vertebra fracture, thoracic spine fracture, left distal fibula fracture, left foot injuries, upper arm fracture, eye visual field impairment, hearing loss, rib fractures, pneumothorax, scapula fracture, dysphagia, sinus disease, and headaches, are not causally or etiologically related to his active service or a finding that the disabilities are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral knee disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current disabilities were incurred in a motorcycle accident unrelated to his service-connected bilateral knee disability.
- Claimed conditions
- closed head injury, bilateral orbital and maxillary fractures, cervical vertebra fracture, thoracic vertebra fracture, left distal fibula fracture, left foot injury (including fractures), left humerus (upper arm) fracture, left eye visual field impairment, impaired hearing, rib fractures, right upper lobe collapse and left pneumothorax, left scapula fracture, dysphagia, pan sinus disease, headaches
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 17, 2011
- Citation
- 1123287
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 1123287.
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.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and will provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches was reopened due to new and material evidence, and the Board found that his current headaches are related to service. Service connection is granted.
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