The Board denied service connection for left hip rheumatoid arthritis, right hip rheumatoid arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis of the bilateral hands, wrist, and feet as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence did not establish an in-service injury or event related to the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis of the hips, hands, wrist, and feet.
- Claimed conditions
- left hip rheumatoid arthritis, right hip rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis of the bilateral hands, wrist, and feet
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20033256
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 20033256.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran passed away before the Board could make a decision on her service connection claims for rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome. Her appeal is dismissed due to her death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development of evidence, including obtaining private treatment records.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and related disabilities are found to prevent him from working, and the case is being referred for extraschedular consideration.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for left hip, right hip, left shoulder, and right shoulder rheumatoid arthritis are granted. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
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