The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral elbow disorder has been reopened, but his claims for PTSD with depression and temporary total evaluation based on treatment for a service-connected disability requiring convalescence or hospitalization have been denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran required surgery necessitating at least one month of convalescence or treatment with immobilization by case of one major joint or more due to PTSD, and he was not medically discharged from service due to an unstable disability deemed severe and substantially gainful employment not feasible.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD with depression, bilateral elbow disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 31, 2017
- Citation
- 1702621
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 1702621.
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: Granted
For the period prior to October 29, 2021, SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) based on housebound status is denied.,For the entire appeal period, SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) based on need of regular aid and attendance is granted.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral elbow disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a neck injury have been granted. The claim for sleep apnea has been withdrawn.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hip disorders due to a lack of current diagnoses in the medical records.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral elbow and hand/finger disorders due to inadequate notice of VA examinations.
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