The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that the Veteran did not experience an in-service injury or disease and that any current left knee disability is related to post-service injuries.,The Board also denied service connection for a left foot disorder, concluding that the current left foot disability did not have its onset during service and was not otherwise etiologically related to service.,Service connection for a stomach disorder was denied as there is no currently diagnosed disability associated with the Veteran's reported in-service stomach symptoms.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran did not experience an in-service injury or disease, and any current left knee disability is related to post-service injuries.,The weight of evidence showed that the current left foot disorder did not have its onset during service and was not otherwise etiologically related to service. The VA examiner opined that the left foot disorder was less likely than not incurred in or caused by the claimed in-service injury.,There is no currently diagnosed disability associated with the Veteran's reported in-service stomach symptoms, as post-service treatment records do not show any current diagnosis related to the stomach.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee disorder, left foot disorder, stomach disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20004031
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, type II, migraines, left and right knee disorders, and obstructive sleep apnea due to missing military records and inadequate examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders to obtain a new examination that adequately addresses all pertinent evidence of record.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis was dismissed due to a untimely notice of disagreement. The left knee disorder claim is remanded for further action.
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