The VA determined that there is no evidence of a bilateral hip disorder or a bilateral elbow disorder in service, and the competent medical evidence does not support current diagnoses.
The deciding factor: There was no objective finding to support the veteran's subjective complaints regarding her hips and elbows after service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Elbow Disorder, Bilateral Hip Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 23, 2003
- Citation
- 0309975
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,977 · Granted: 27% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0309975.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral hip disorder due to issues with the evidence and need for further medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD and multiple orthopedic disabilities, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since March 6, 2013.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The other issues on appeal have been remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for PTSD due to MST, a bilateral elbow disorder, and a bilateral hand disorder. The remaining issues have been remanded.
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