The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracic/lumbar spine and arthritis in multiple areas, including left buttock, left foot, right fingers, left fingers, right wrist, left thigh, and left forearm. The decision is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected photodermatitis.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative changes in multiple areas are not due to her service-connected skin disorder (photodermatitis) but rather due to wear and tear of the joints, which worsen with activity. The VHA opinion concluded that neither the Veteran’s degenerative disc disease nor arthritis in other multiple areas had its onset during service or until many years later.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the thoracic/lumbar spine, Arthritis of the left buttock, Arthritis of the left foot, Arthritis of the right fingers, Arthritis of the left fingers, Arthritis of the right wrist, Arthritis of the left thigh, Arthritis of the left forearm
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19103946
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 readjudicated the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a respiratory disability, and a skin disability based on new and relevant evidence. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, sleep impairment, hypertension, impaired vision, residual disability from vasectomy, and a compensable rating for scars were denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of TDIU is denied as it was not factually ascertainable that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation before June 14, 2013. The effective date remains at June 12, 2015.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and related conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for arthritis of the right wrist, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted.
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