The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic arthritic condition during or within one year after service. The Veteran's current diagnosis was not shown until over four decades later.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was also denied as there is no evidence of such conditions in service and no credible continuity of symptomatology since service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran did not have a chronic arthritic condition during or within one year after service, and his current diagnosis was not shown until over four decades later. The absence of treatment records for decades post-service further supports this finding.,There is no evidence of peripheral neuropathy in service, and there is no credible continuity of symptomatology since service. The Veteran's current diagnoses were first noted many years after separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the thoracolumbar spine, Peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity, Peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19133106
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Remanded (sent back)
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- Partly granted
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