The Veteran's cervical spine condition is granted service connection, but his bilateral knee condition (including mixed connective tissue disorder) remains denied. Other conditions are either remanded or have been previously addressed.
The deciding factor: There is no clear evidence of a chronic bilateral knee condition during service and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any diagnosed bilateral knee condition began in service.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Cervical Spine Condition","diagnosis":"Degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Knee Condition","diagnosis":"Mixed connective tissue disorder with symptoms impacting bilateral knees (not service-connected)"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20081022
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.