The Board denied service connection for a left elbow condition as there was no causal relationship between the in-service complaint of lateral epicondylitis and the current diagnosis of medial epicondylitis.
The deciding factor: A VA examiner found that the Veteran's diagnosis of left elbow medial epicondylitis is less likely related to the in-service treatment for lateral epicondylitis, due to lack of a causal connection between the two conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- medial epicondylitis of the left elbow
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 19, 2020
- Citation
- A20008823
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 A20008823.
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: Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for medial epicondylitis of the left elbow and sleep apnea, but granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to a service-connected disability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome, as secondary to service-connected radiculopathy of the left upper extremity and/or medial epicondylitis of the left elbow. The case is being returned for further development including obtaining a VA medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have aggravated his left carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for a brace used for his service-connected back disability and topical medication used for his service-connected eczema in 2018, as there was no evidence that these items caused significant damage to his clothes.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal prior to the Board's decision.
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