The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee DJD as the evidence did not show a chronic disability in service or within presumptive periods.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's complaints of back and knee issues were not documented during service, and there was no continuity of symptoms post-service. The VA examiner opined that any current disabilities are less likely related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine DJD, left knee DJD, right knee DJD
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19158092
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19158092.
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: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for revision of a March 2009 rating decision that denied service connection for left knee DJD secondary to right knee DJD and granted a 30 percent rating for PTSD. The Veteran argued CUE in both decisions, but the Board found no evidence of CUE.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for revision of a March 2009 rating decision that denied service connection for left knee DJD secondary to right knee DJD and granted a 30 percent rating for PTSD. The Veteran argued CUE in both decisions, but the Board found no evidence of CUE.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected left leg shrapnel injury is found to have resulted in left knee DJD. The Veteran meets the criteria for SAH due to his service-connected disabilities, which require constant use of a walker or cane for ambulation.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities (left and right DJD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.
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