The Board found that the reduction of the disability rating from 20% to 10% for the Veteran's medial epicondylitis and olecranon fracture, impairment of supination and pronation with degenerative arthritic changes with elbow anterior ulnar spurring was improper due to an inadequate examination. The prior 20% rating is restored.
The deciding factor: The reduction was based on an April 2019 VA examination that did not adequately assess functional loss during flare-ups and repeated use, which is a critical factor in determining disability ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- medial epicondylitis, olecranon fracture, impairment of supination and pronation, degenerative arthritic changes with elbow anterior ulnar spurring
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 6, 2023
- Citation
- A23034843
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 A23034843.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's request for earlier effective dates for higher ratings of left elbow strain and medial epicondylitis, stating that the evidence did not show these conditions had worsened before April 20, 2023.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remands the case for further development, including obtaining an adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right ulnar neuropathy, to include medial epicondylitis, is caused or aggravated by his service-connected degenerative disc disease with L5-S1 herniation.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's right elbow condition, finding that it is not related to his military service or secondary to his previously service-connected right shoulder biceps tendonitis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for left elbow, right wrist, and left wrist conditions due to inadequate information provided by the VA examiner in previous opinions. The Veteran's statements of continuity of symptoms since service are considered credible.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.