The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, chronic low back pain with degenerative changes, left calcaneal osteophytosis, and right calcaneal osteophytosis. The appeals were also denied for increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for chronic low back pain with degenerative changes and in excess of 10 percent for left and right calcaneal osteophytosis.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that any of the Veteran's claimed conditions began during service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, chronic low back pain with degenerative changes, left calcaneal osteophytosis, right calcaneal osteophytosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19131056
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 19131056.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for the claimed conditions.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for right knee arthritis, finding that the Veteran's condition is related to his active duty service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and tinnitus. The increased evaluation claim for pes planus was denied, as was the increase in rating for the right wrist fracture. The reduction of the right wrist rating from 10 percent to 0 percent was found improper, restoring the 10 percent rating.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee arthritis and a separate 30 percent or higher rating for the period from January 1, 2020, to July 23, 2025, but granted a 10 percent rating for right knee slight recurrent subluxation and lateral instability.
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