BVA Case 14-0783: Back

The examiner's rationale concludes: Thus there is no nexus or medical evidence of chronic left knee pain that was continuous after the veteran left the service.

In the November 2013 decision here on appeal,the Board denied the claim.

Establishing service connection generally requires medical or,in certain circumstances,lay evidence of (1)a current disability;(2) an in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury;and (3)a nexus between the claimed in-service disease or injury and the present disability.

sen while he was in service,and the appellant asserts the Board neglected to ensure that VA met its duty to assist by adequately considering his right knee disorder and by failing to obtain medical records.

Second,he states the Board erred by failing to provide [him]with a medical examination for his right knee condition.

Finally,he asserts the Board erred by failing to explain and apply the heightened duty to assist standard in this case, regarding certain VA medical records that the appellant alleges exist but were not found by VA.

Each of these asserted errors arise under the Secretary's duty to assist,which this Court reviews under a clearly erroneous standard of review.

The substantiation or rejection of a service-connection claim is a finding of fact and also reviewed under a clearly erroneous standard of review pursuant to 38 U.