The Board found that the veteran's current upper extremity disabilities are not related to his active duty service and were more likely due to post-service employment.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and medical records did not support a finding of in-service injury or chronic disability, with symptoms being attributed primarily to post-service work activities.
- Claimed conditions
- Left elbow injury, Bilateral hand injuries (including right middle finger fracture), Left arm injury, Right arm injury, Bilateral wrist injuries, Right elbow injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 30, 2003
- Citation
- 0318304
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 0318304.
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 decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, as there is no VA examination provided for the right arm disability.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as his September 2017 VA Form 9 was not timely filed, making the June 2015 rating decision final.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has dismissed the issue of service connection for a right forearm or elbow disability due to prior grant in May 1997. The rating for right hallux valgus is denied, and the issue of compensable rating for right elbow injury residuals since February 21, 2015 is remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's bladder cancer is presumed to be service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The right elbow injury, right shoulder strain with degenerative arthritis, and residuals of traumatic pneumothorax are being remanded for further evaluation.
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