The Board denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder, RIGHT elbow disorder, and LEFT elbow disorder. Service connection was granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy / sciatica as secondary to a service-connected low back disorder. Temporary total ratings under 38 C.F.R. § 4.29 were denied due to lack of VA hospitalizations.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current bilateral shoulder, RIGHT elbow, and LEFT elbow conditions are not causally related to his military service or any in-service injury. The Board found no evidence of a chronic disease during service that could be linked to the current disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral shoulder arthritis, right elbow tendinitis, left lower extremity radiculopathy / sciatica
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20081419
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for entitlement to service connection for bilateral shoulder arthritis due to an inadequate VA examination and potential outstanding private records.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for left and right elbow tendinitis due to the lack of evidence showing a current diagnosis, while remanding the claim for skin cancer for further development.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral hip arthritis, but denied service connection for bilateral shoulder arthritis. The decision also denied increased ratings for knee disabilities and a compensable rating for PFB.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right elbow tendinitis, left elbow tendinitis, Vitamin D deficiency, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability.
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