The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation and noting that the conditions began more than 10 years after service.
The deciding factor: The September 2019 VA examiner concluded that the knee conditions were less likely than not incurred in or caused by military service due to a lack of documentation during service and shortly thereafter, as well as the Veteran's report that his symptoms began in 1993.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease, left knee, Degenerative joint disease, right knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 13, 2025
- Citation
- A25052324
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected left knee and right shoulder disabilities, along with compensation benefits awarded under 38 USC § 1151 for a right bicep detachment during shoulder surgery, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from December 22, 2011 to December 11, 2016.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for various conditions, including left eye condition, right eye condition, hypertension, left knee, right knee, obstructive sleep apnea, and coronary artery disease (CAD), as well as denied an earlier effective date for CAD.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a right leg disability, kidney cancer, including residuals, and bilateral knee disabilities as the evidence did not support that these conditions began during active service or are related to an in-service injury or disease.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for headaches, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, right knee, left knee, and right shoulder was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.
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