The Veteran's claimed wrist, hand, arm/shoulder, hip, ankle, knee, and hearing loss disabilities are not related to service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.
The deciding factor: Service treatment records do not document any relevant complaints or findings for the claimed conditions during service. The Veteran's specific denials of such symptoms in his separation Report of Medical History outweigh his assertions post-service.
- Claimed conditions
- left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, right hand disorder, left arm/shoulder disorder, right arm/shoulder disorder, low back disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19150481
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- 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.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 25, 2022, for the award of service connection for tinnitus and a 100 percent initial rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder.
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