The Board found that the Veteran's ankle, knee, and shoulder conditions did not manifest in service or within one year of discharge. The medical evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.
The deciding factor: Medical opinions were provided by VA examiners who concluded that the Veteran's current ankle, knee, and shoulder disabilities are less likely caused by or related to his period of active duty.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis of ankles, Arthritis of knees, Arthritis of shoulders
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 3, 2014
- Citation
- 1448737
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 1448737.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the back, hips, legs, hands and ankles, as well as a lumbar spine disorder, are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed regarding whether these conditions are related to her service or service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings was denied. The Board upheld the denial of higher initial ratings for various disabilities, including arthritis and sarcoid arthropathy.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues related to his spine, joints, and skin conditions is dismissed due to withdrawal. The Board grants service connection for PTSD with depression.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that further examination and medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's current joint disabilities, including shoulder and cervical spine conditions, are related to service. The appeal is being remanded for these purposes.
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.