The Board denied service connection for numbness of the bilateral upper extremities, as there was no competent medical evidence of a disorder manifested by numbness of the bilateral upper extremities.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence of a neurological disorder manifested by numbness of the bilateral upper extremities. The August 2005 VA examination report revealed no sensory loss to pinprick or fine touch, and private and VA outpatient treatment reports are negative for specific findings of numbness of the upper extremities.
- Claimed conditions
- epistaxis, numbness, bilateral upper extremities (claimed as secondary to service-connected degenerative disc disease, cervical spine), left shoulder rotator cuff tear (claimed as left shoulder bursitis/arthritis with torn and retracted tendons) (secondary to service-connected bilateral weak foot condition and left knee disorders), right knee degenerative arthritis (secondary to service-connected left knee disorders)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 6, 2009
- Citation
- 0900389
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.
- Dismissed
The veteran's appeal requests for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed as they were not timely filed.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a left knee scar and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right great toe ingrown toenail, left forearm scar, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), left shoulder disability, and epistaxis. The remaining issues were remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and epistaxis, finding that both conditions are related to the appellant's active military service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a left arm disability, to include arthritis and numbness, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.