The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for a right upper arm disability, left ulnar neuropathy, low back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral leg disability, forehead cyst, and neurological disability of the left hand. However, after review of all available evidence, including service records and post-service medical records, the Board finds that there is no credible evidence establishing a link between these disabilities and active duty service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's reported history of continuous symptoms since service does not align with objective evidence from service records, which only documented abrasions to his hands and back following a jeep accident in 1974. There are no chronic conditions noted on the separation examination, and the earliest complaints related to low back and shoulder pain date more than ten years after separation.
- Claimed conditions
- Right upper arm disability, Left ulnar neuropathy, Low back disability, Bilateral shoulder disability, Bilateral leg disability, Forehead cyst, Neurological disability of the left upper extremity (left hand)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 7, 2011
- Citation
- 1121922
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1121922.
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: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected low back disability alone does not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hip disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluation and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to address the severity of his low back disability, including whether he has experienced incapacitating episodes of IVDS.
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