The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left elbow and wrist disabilities were denied by the Board. The initial rating for the left wrist disability was granted, but a higher rating is still sought.
The deciding factor: The Veteran failed to report for scheduled examinations which may result in denial of his claim due to failure to appear.
- Claimed conditions
- posttraumatic arthritis of the left elbow, residual malunion, fracture of the left ulna with dislocation of the radial head, ulnar nerve damage (left elbow), post-surgical changes in the distal left ulna (left wrist)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2016
- Citation
- 1617026
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 1617026.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's left ulnar nerve disability. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also being remanded.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his left elbow disability, finding that further development was needed. The appeal is currently remanded to obtain additional evidence and provide another VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and Gulf War exposure-related conditions. The Board has remanded the case to schedule a hearing before the Board.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left elbow and left wrist disabilities were denied by the RO in a March 2009 rating decision. The Board remanded the cases to obtain additional evidence, but the Veteran failed to appear for an examination scheduled on July 30, 2013. A VA examination was conducted on November 26, 2013, and more recent records are needed before a final determination can be made.
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