The Veteran's lumbar degenerative joint disease with muscle spasm is not service-connected.,Right hip disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are not service-connected as secondary to back disorder.,Right shoulder disorder and left shoulder disorder are not service-connected as secondary to back disorder.
The deciding factor: The pre-existing lumbar degenerative joint disease with muscle spasm clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service, thus rebutting the presumption of soundness at entry.,Right hip disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder were not manifest in service or within one year of separation from any period of service. The disability is unrelated (caused or aggravated) to service-connected disease or injury.,Right shoulder disorder and left shoulder disorder were not manifest in service or within one year of separation from any period of service. The disability is unrelated (caused or aggravated) to service-connected disease or injury.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar degenerative joint disease with muscle spasm (back disorder), right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20066544
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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- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Remanded (sent back)
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a left hip disorder to be further developed, including an examination.
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