The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right forearm disability, previously claimed as calcium buildup of the right elbow and arthritis of the right elbow, is reopened. The Board finds that an additional VA examination is required to determine the etiology of his current right forearm or elbow disabilities. Additionally, a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) must be issued addressing the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right foot hallux valgus and scars from injury to the right elbow.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that an additional VA examination is required to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current right forearm or elbow disabilities, as well as whether any current disability is related to service-connected conditions. The SSOC must also address the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right foot hallux valgus and scars from injury to the right elbow.
- Claimed conditions
- right forearm disability, right elbow arthritis, olecranon bursitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 3, 2020
- Citation
- 20000517
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 112 · Granted: 20% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20000517.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection of right and left elbow arthritis, as well as left shoulder arthritis.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeal concerning the issues of service connection for left shoulder, right forearm, and right elbow disabilities. The Board dismissed these appeals.
- Dismissed
Your appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board cannot issue a decision on your claims as they are no longer pending.
- Denied
The Board denied all claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, except for the grant of an earlier effective date for total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance based on permanent and total disability status.
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