The Board denied service connection for right ankle/foot disability, lumbar degenerative joint disease, and related issues due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was also denied for left lower extremity neuropathy with obturator nerve involvement as there is no evidence supporting a link between the condition and service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there is insufficient medical evidence to support a finding that any of the Veteran's current disabilities were incurred or aggravated by his military service, including due to exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or other environmental factors.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Right ankle/foot disability","claimed_conditions":["Osteoarthritis","strain","tendinitis"]}, {"condition_name":"Lumbar degenerative joint disease","claimed_conditions":["Lower spine injury"]}, {"condition_name":"Right sciatic nerve condition","claimed_conditions":["Right sciatic nerve condition"]}, {"condition_name":"Left lower extremity neuropathy with obturator nerve involvement","claimed_conditions":["Sciatic nerve"]}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19128221
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 granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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.