Veterans’ RightsAn independent resource for veterans
← All decisions
Denied

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow and left ankle disabilities, as well as his initial evaluations for migraine headaches, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with herniated disc and radiculopathy, and right ankle joint instability have all been denied.

The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence establishing a current diagnosis of a left elbow or left ankle disability during the appeal period. The Veteran's service treatment records do not indicate any chronic left elbow or left ankle problems, and post-service VA treatment records also lack such evidence.

Claimed conditions
Left Elbow Disability, Left Ankle Disability
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
None in this decision
Decision date
March 21, 2016
Citation
1611362

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 1611362.

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.

Free starter guide for your own claim

Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.

We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.

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.