The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not show a chronic condition within one year of discharge or that it was related to his service-connected disabilities. Increased ratings for right knee arthritis and instability were also denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no medical evidence supporting aggravation of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy, and there was no continuity of symptomatology post-service. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran’s right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is less likely than not proximately due to or the result of his knee injury during service.
- Claimed conditions
- right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right knee arthritis, right knee instability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20081551
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 Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for bilateral knee instability and denied service connection for right and left knee instability, finding no nexus between the Veteran's knee conditions and his service or service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and bilateral knee disorders due to the need for additional VA examinations.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an increased rating for right knee strain and instability but granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee limitation of extension from November 25, 2024.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left foot condition, right foot condition, cellulitis, right ear hearing loss, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal of the proposal to reduce a 40 percent evaluation for lumbosacral strain was dismissed.
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