The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity as there is no current diagnosis and no evidence of a disease or injury in service.
The deciding factor: There is no objective evidence to support a current diagnosis of radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, and the Veteran's self-reported symptoms do not constitute a disability for which service connection may be awarded.
- Claimed conditions
- radiculopathy of the left upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19188555
Veterans Law Judge
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19188555.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to multiple service-connected disabilities, including radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities and low back condition. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU due to his inability to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection of radiculopathy of the left upper extremity. The Board has dismissed this issue.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 8511.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left upper extremity is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 8511.,The Veteran's TMJ disorder is currently rated at 20 percent.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for an effective date of July 15, 2013 for the grant of service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted. The initial rating for a left shoulder disability remains at 20 percent. The claim for TDIU earlier than September 25, 2020 is denied.
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