The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are not service-connected as they did not arise during or within one year of active military service, and there is no causal relationship between the current conditions and his service.,The Veteran has a current respiratory disability, asthma, which is etiologically related to his extended exposure to coal-burning stoves during military service.
The deciding factor: Service records do not show any knee injuries or diagnoses. The Board found no evidence of in-service injury and concluded that the current bilateral knee disabilities are not causally related to service.,The Veteran's asthma is linked to his exposure to coal-burning stoves during military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Bilateral Knees, Respiratory Disorder (Asthma)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 17, 2015
- Citation
- 1548328
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1548328.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded for further evaluation due to the potential need for surgical intervention.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder but has remanded the issue of service connection for degenerative joint disease of bilateral knees.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been granted. He was previously awarded a 30% rating for PTSD effective July 28, 2011.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current respiratory disorder, including asthma and pneumonia, that is related to service. The VA examinations and private treatment records do not support a link between his current asthma and any in-service events or exposures.
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.