The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, adjustment disorder with depression), right knee disability, and left knee disability. The evidence did not support the existence of current disabilities or a link between these conditions and service.,The Board found that there was no in-service injury or disease related to the Veteran's lumbar spine or knees, and the diagnoses were not linked to service.
The deciding factor: There is insufficient evidence to establish a current disability for any of the claimed conditions. The Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to show that his symptoms are due to in-service events or injuries.,The Board found no credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors related to service, and thus could not link the diagnosed psychiatric disorders to service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, adjustment disorder with depression), right knee disability (degenerative joint disease), left knee disability (degenerative joint disease)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19182012
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 claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right knee, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability but denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for his left knee disability prior to April 25, 2019.
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