The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the knees did not have its onset during active service or within one year of discharge and is not related to any in-service disease, event, or injury. The Board also determined that it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back strain and/or postoperative bunion of the right little toe.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's knee arthritis did not manifest during active service and there is no evidence linking it to a service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Knees
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2014
- Citation
- 1400513
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1400513.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral knee degenerative joint disease was denied.,The Veteran's PTSD claim was granted with an initial disability rating of 70 percent, but no higher.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has reopened the claim and granted service connection for a bilateral knee condition as secondary to service-connected bilateral tibia stress reaction, finding that the Veteran's current knee condition is more likely than not caused by her service-connected tibia disability.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the knees and arthritis of the hips were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claims are therefore denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral ankle disorder, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, knees, and hips all claimed as secondary to pes planus.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.