The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (numbness) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee injury. The claim of entitlement to an increased rating for residuals of left knee injury was also denied.,Service connection was not granted because there is no evidence that the current thoracolumbar spine disability or bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (numbness) are related to service, including as secondary to the service-connected left knee injury.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and opinions provided by VA medical professionals did not find a direct link between the Veteran's current thoracolumbar spine disability or bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (numbness) and his service, including as secondary to the service-connected left knee injury.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Thoracolumbar spine osteoarthritis","claimed_conditions":["thoracolumbar spine"]}, {"condition_name":"Left lower extremity radiculopathy (numbness)","claimed_conditions":["left lower extremity numbness","right lower extremity numbness"]}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20002099
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
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