The Veteran's cervical spine, left knee, right hand, bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and left hip disabilities were not found to be related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition. The right ankle disability was denied as the rating did not meet criteria for ankylosis.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that there is no chronicity of cervical spine injury in service and no evidence of symptomatology since separation from service, leading to a finding of acute nature. For other conditions, the lack of continuity of symptoms was noted as well as the absence of medical nexus opinions supporting a relationship with service.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical spine disability, Left knee disability, Right hand disability, Bilateral pes planus, Bilateral plantar fasciitis, Left hip disability, Right ankle disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 5, 2023
- Citation
- 23055096
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 23055096.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under the General Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The evidence does not support a higher rating as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 10, 1997, for a 10% disability rating for his right ankle disability is denied as there was no CUE in the previous decisions.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU claim for bilateral knee disabilities and his right and left knee scars have been granted. He is now rated at a combined 60% disability rating from June 1, 2018 based on bilateral factors for his bilateral knee disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for brain cancer, low back disability, and cervical spine disability due to a pre-decisional error in failing to obtain a radiation dose estimate from the Under Secretary for Health. The Veteran's military service aboard USS ENTERPRISE is considered relevant to his exposure to ionizing radiation.
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