The Board denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, back, and left knee disabilities as they were not etiologically related to the Veteran's active service or secondary to a service-connected condition.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show in-service injuries, diseases, events, or chronic symptoms of right ankle or back arthritis. Symptoms also did not manifest within one year of service separation and were not continuous since service. The disabilities on appeal were not caused or worsened by the service-connected bilateral pes planus.
- Claimed conditions
- right ankle degenerative arthritis, left ankle status post open reduction and internal fixation and fusion, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome, spondylolisthesis status post lumbar fusion, lumbar radiculopathy, left knee status post lateral tibial fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 1, 2024
- Citation
- A24062272
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for left ankle, right ankle, bilateral hip conditions and entitlement to specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's pre-existing conditions were aggravated during his period of ACDUTRA.
- Dismissed
The appeal seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, degenerative arthritis, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension was dismissed due to non-compliance with claims processing rules.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a higher rating in excess of the current ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a compensable evaluation for hypertension and granted an increased rating of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease from April 13, 2022. The effective date for the right lower extremity radiculopathy was also granted as May 10, 2016.
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