The Board has determined that the veteran's current arthritis, including in his fingers, hands, arms, shoulders, hips, legs, and lower extremities, as well as degenerative joint disease of the spine, was not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are therefore denied.
The deciding factor: Service medical records did not show any complaints or findings of arthritis during active duty. Post-service treatment records indicate that the veteran's current conditions were first diagnosed many years after his separation from service and do not suggest a direct link to military service.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis of the bilateral fingers, hands, arms, and shoulders, arthritis of the bilateral hips, legs, and lower extremities, degenerative joint disease of the spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 21, 2005
- Citation
- 0511353
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0511353.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Granted
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- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the appellant's death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities. The issue of a higher rating for bilateral multifocal lens implants is remanded for additional development.
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