The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, bilateral shin splints, and bilateral knee disorders. The claims for the thoracolumbar spine disorder and psychiatric disorder were remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence of record does not support a finding that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of a cervical spine disorder or any functional impairment thereof. For the bilateral shin splints and knees, there is no evidence that they are unresponsive to shoe orthotics or other conservative treatment, nor is there clear evidence linking them to service or a service-connected disability.
- Claimed conditions
- right shin splints, left shin splints, cervical spine disorder, right knee disorder (degenerative arthritis, knee strain, knee instability), left knee disorder (degenerative arthritis, knee strain, knee instability), thoracolumbar spine disorder (degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25022700
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 Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and bilateral cataracts of the eyes.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for an increased rating for the left shoulder disorder, service connection for a cervical spine disorder, service connection for a right arm disorder, and service connection for a left arm disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity, lumbar radiculopathy as they were already granted. The claims for service connection for a right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, and cervical spine disorder are remanded for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and left hip disorder as they are inextricably intertwined with each other.
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