The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed joint disabilities, including cervical spine, bilateral shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees, are not service-connected as they do not have a direct link to his active duty service.
The deciding factor: Service records did not document any instances of complaints or treatment related to the joints on appeal during service. The in-service injuries were unrelated to the current disabilities and there is no medical evidence linking the current conditions to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis of cervical spine, Arthritis of bilateral shoulders, Arthritis of bilateral elbows, Arthritis of bilateral hips, Arthritis of bilateral knees
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 27, 2016
- Citation
- 1630053
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1630053.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service connection claims for DJD of the right elbow, arthritis of bilateral hips, low back disorder, HTN, and ED are being remanded due to new evidence received. The claim for a TDIU is also remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the lower back, bilateral hips, and bilateral shoulders due to insufficient evidence on record. The Veteran contends that his current conditions are related to his active service in Vietnam.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's cervical spine injury and related conditions have been granted service connection, with a rating of 30 percent effective December 22, 2017. The right knee disability, arthritis of the cervical spine, neuropathy of left upper extremity, lumbar spine disability, sciatica of bilateral lower extremities as secondary to a lumbar spine disability, and skin disability have not been granted service connection.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis and lung and breathing problems due to PTSD should be remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions.
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