The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his spine and bilateral hip conditions, finding that it is less likely than not that these conditions are due to or aggravated by his active duty service or by his service-connected right knee disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found that the Veteran’s spine and hip conditions were more likely due to age and post-service accidents rather than his service-connected right knee disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine (spine condition), Degenerative joint disease of the left hip (left hip condition), Degenerative joint disease of the right hip (right hip condition)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20027638
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 20027638.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right hip and right knee conditions due to inadequate examinations in prior VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo new examinations to determine the current severity of his hip and knee conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
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