The Board denied service connection for bilateral upper extremity disabilities, including rheumatoid arthritis affecting the shoulders, hands, and wrists, as they are not related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's diagnosed shoulder, hand, and wrist disabilities were less likely than not incurred in or caused by the claimed in-service injury, event, or illness. The examiner also stated that the lumbar spine disability did not cause or aggravate any upper extremity pathology.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"rheumatoid arthritis","affected_body_parts":["right arm/shoulder","left arm/shoulder","right hand/wrist","left hand/wrist"]}
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19179203
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
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