The Board denied service connection for degenerative changes of the right and left knees, finding no evidence that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service injuries.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's current degenerative changes of the knees began during his military service or are otherwise related to any in-service injury.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative changes of the right knee, degenerative changes of the left knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19183058
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 remanded all issues related to the veteran's ratings for various disabilities and TDIU. The Board could not consider certain evidence due to timing rules but will allow the AOJ to consider it.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including sciatica, lumbar sprain, DDD of the lumbar spine, degenerative changes of the left knee, mild degenerative arthropathy of the right knee, CTS of both upper extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to correct a duty to assist error.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for polymyositis, sleep apnea, type II diabetes mellitus, right and left ankle disabilities, as well as higher initial ratings for radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve, left femoral nerve, and degenerative changes in both knees.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's 100% disability rating for right knee arthroplasty is maintained, but a 30% rating is granted effective from October 1, 2017. The case is remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination of his right knee.
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