The Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint and tinnitus disorders have been denied as the evidence does not support a link between his current conditions and his military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found no nexus between the Veteran’s current diagnoses and his service, with some noting that the symptoms were first reported years after service.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Bilateral Shoulder Disorder","claimed_condition":"pinched nerve on the right"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Hand and Wrist Disorders","claimed_conditions":["bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)","ulnar neuropathies","peripheral neuropathies"]}, {"condition_name":"Lumbar Spine Disorder","claimed_condition":"spondylosis at L5, mild lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD), and disc protrusion at L5-S1"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Knee Disorder","claimed_conditions":["bilateral knee pain","left knee Baker's cyst"]}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Ankle and Foot Disorders","claimed_conditions":["bilateral Achilles spurring","right first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint degenerative changes"]}, {"condition_name":"Tinnitus"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19127671
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.