The Board denied service connection for arthritis, tendonitis, bilateral shin splints, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service treatment records were negative for complaints or treatments related to any of the claimed disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a history of joint pain at his separation examination and that his current arthritis and joint pain symptoms are not credible given the lack of medical evidence documenting ongoing symptoms since service.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis, tendonitis, bilateral shin splints, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19128812
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.
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- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for further development and consideration of evidence not previously considered.
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