The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee DJD, left shoulder DJD and bursitis, right leg fracture residuals, left inguinal hernia, hiatal hernia, and esophagitis (ear), have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition in service or at any time since service that is related to the Veteran's military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners concluded there was no link between the current conditions and service due to lack of continuity of symptomatology, type of work after service, and other factors.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Knee Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), Left Shoulder DJD and Bursitis, Right Leg Fracture Residuals, Left Inguinal Hernia, Hiatal Hernia, Right External Otitis (Ear)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 1, 2019
- Citation
- 19159651
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 19159651.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for GERD and hiatal hernia to obtain additional medical opinions regarding aggravation by the Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 60 percent rating for chronic cholecystitis to include GERD with hiatal hernia from February 1, 2024 to May 18, 2024 and an 80 percent rating for the same condition beginning May 19, 2024. The claim for a separate rating for GERD was denied before May 19, 2024.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a VA esophageal examination to determine the relationship between the diagnosed GERD and hiatal hernia and active service, including exposure to burn pits.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee degenerative joint disease, and left thumb sprain. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for left knee instability.
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