The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection have been dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran has bilateral knee DJD, including patellofemoral syndrome, which is granted as a direct result of service. Service connection for right elbow and left elbow disabilities are denied.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that there was no current diagnosis or treatment for the right and left elbow disabilities, and thus could not establish service connection based on the evidence provided.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral knee DJD, left elbow disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 11, 2018
- Citation
- 18141545
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 18141545.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection for anxiety, sinusitis, a cervical spine disability, a left elbow disability, and a right hip disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and potential secondary service connection theories.
- Denied
The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of the claimed bilateral finger, wrist, elbow, and shoulder disabilities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining medical opinions and addressing all relevant issues, including secondary service connection.
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.