The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic disability manifested by difficulty walking and abnormal gait, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of a chronic disability at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no evidence indicating that the Veteran's bilateral hip condition was incurred in or caused by military service, and noted that there were no treatment records showing chronic altered gait or difficulty walking. The Veteran's symptoms were attributed to other conditions such as knee pain, right thigh/hip pain, and foot pain.
- Claimed conditions
- difficulty walking, abnormal gait
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 23, 2022
- Citation
- 22017005
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 22017005.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for morbid obesity, difficulty walking, allergic rhinitis, otitis media, gout, sleep apnea, hyperglycemia, kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy), polyneuropathy of the left upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the right upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the left lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), and polyneuropathy of the right lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) are denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinea pedis and onychomycosis are also denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for difficulty walking is denied as it is a symptom of other diagnosed conditions, including back disability, bilateral knee disability, and pes planus. The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is denied due to lack of medical nexus between the condition and in-service incurrence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for otitis media is denied as there are no contemporaneous records indicating a diagnosis prior to separation from service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, sleep apnea, hyperglycemia, kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy), polyneuropathy of the left upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the right upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the left lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), and polyneuropathy of the right lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea pedis is denied as there are no contemporaneous records indicating a diagnosis prior to separation from service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, sleep apnea, hyperglycemia, kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy), polyneuropathy of the left upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the right upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the left lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), and polyneuropathy of the right lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea pedis is denied as there are no contemporaneous records indicating a diagnosis prior to separation from service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, sleep apnea, hyperglycemia, kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy), polyneuropathy of the left upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the right upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the left lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), and polyneuropathy of the right lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea pedis is denied as there are no contemporaneous records indicating a diagnosis prior to separation from service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, sleep apnea, hyperglycemia, kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy), polyneuropathy of the left upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the right upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the left lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), and polyneuropathy of the right lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea pedis is denied as there are no contemporaneous records indicating a diagnosis prior to separation from service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, sleep apnea, hyperglycemia, kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy), polyneuropathy of the left upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the right upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the left lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), and polyneuropathy of the right lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea pedis is denied as there are no contemporaneous records indicating a diagnosis prior to separation from service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an abnormal gait, right ankle synovitis, right ankle scars, Morton's neuroma, right hammer toe, and a low back disability.
- Partly granted
Service connection for the veteran's right hip condition is granted, but service connection for an abnormal gait is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for GERD, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome of the left and right lower extremities, a disability manifested by shortness of breath, fatigue, cerebellar atrophy/ataxia, abnormal gait, abnormal balance, abnormal dexterity, speech impairment/dysarthria, and neurofibroma excision due to duty-to-assist errors. A new VA examination is required for each condition.
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