The Veteran's claims for service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine, bilateral hip disabilities, right knee disability, and left knee disability have all been denied. The Board found that there was insufficient evidence to establish an in-service incurrence or a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current diagnoses were not shown during service or within one year of separation from service, and the medical evidence did not support a link between his service-connected pes planus and his claimed disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine","diagnosis_date":null,"disposition_on_file":"denied"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral hip disabilities","diagnosis_date":null,"disposition_on_file":"denied"}, {"condition_name":"Right knee disability","diagnosis_date":null,"disposition_on_file":"denied"}, {"condition_name":"Left knee disability","diagnosis_date":null,"disposition_on_file":"denied"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20003745
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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