The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the bilateral knees and bilateral shoulders, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's current diagnoses were less likely than not due to service, citing lack of in-service treatment records and the likelihood that his age at the time of service would have prevented arthritis from developing during service.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative arthritis of the bilateral knees, degenerative arthritis of the bilateral shoulders
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19188413
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,828 · Granted: 32% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19188413.
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: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of the aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted TDIU and remanded the issue of increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right knee meniscal tear, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the shoulders, bilateral hand disability, and bilateral hearing loss. However, due to the complexity of these cases, additional development is required as they are currently being remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of bilateral knee disability due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee disabilities.
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