The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran’s claim for service connection for a bilateral elbow disability can be properly adjudicated. The Veteran's bilateral elbow disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional evidence.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions provided were insufficient, and there was not enough evidence to determine whether the Veteran's bilateral elbow disabilities were proximately caused by his service-connected back, knees, or radiculopathy. A new examination is needed to address these issues.
- Claimed conditions
- right elbow neuropathy, right elbow synovitis, right elbow tendon adhesions, right elbow radiocapitellar joint arthritis, left elbow deep hematoma, left lateral epicondylitis, left elbow synovitis, left elbow neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 30, 2019
- Citation
- 19133496
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
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 a left elbow disability, best characterized as left lateral epicondylitis and left partial common extensor tendon tear.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for left lateral epicondylitis, left wrist tendinitis, right knee strain, acquired psychiatric disability to include posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and insomnia, and sinusitis.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for left elbow internal derangement and determined that new evidence supports this reopening. The veteran's left elbow internal derangement was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as it existed prior to service. The right elbow disability, depression and anxiety, and hearing loss were also not found to be related to service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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.