The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed right ankle, left ankle, right leg (formerly right knee), and left leg (formerly left knee) disabilities. The decision also denied a rating greater than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Ankle, Left Ankle, Right Leg (formerly Right Knee), Left Leg (formerly Left Knee)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19180354
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted clothing allowances for a back brace and wheelchair, but denied them for a neck brace, bilateral knee braces, pain medication therapy, cane, and walker.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected TBI, bilateral knees, left metatarsal avulsion residuals, left wrist condition, and migraines are being remanded for further evaluation due to the potential worsening of these conditions.,The Veteran's rib/sternum condition, left ankle condition, bilateral shoulder conditions, insomnia, and kidney condition (claimed as rhabdomyolysis) are also being remanded for further evaluation.
- Granted
The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at a 20 percent rating from September 1, 1956 to December 31, 2006. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) was granted since April 10, 2009.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected mixed connective tissue disease (Marfan syndrome) has been granted separate ratings for multiple joint disabilities, including right and left knee pain with limited flexion, right and left ankle pain with limited range of motion, right and left hand/finger pain with limited range of motion, and lumbar spine DDD.
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