The Veteran's sickle cell trait is not service-connected as it is a congenital defect without additional superimposed disease or injury.,There is no evidence of residuals of a traumatic brain injury related to service, and the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of such condition.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a cervical spine disability. The STRs are silent for any injuries sustained as a result of a hatch falling on his head or any diagnoses related to a TBI or cervical spine disability.,There is no evidence of a left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, or right knee disability during service or post-service. The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions.,The Veteran's STRs and post-service treatment records are silent for complaints or diagnoses related to bilateral shoulder pain or strain, bilateral elbow pain or strain, or right knee pain or strain.,There is no evidence of a right knee disability during service or post-service. The Veteran does not have current diagnosis of this condition.
The deciding factor: The sickle cell trait is a congenital defect and was not subject to a superimposed disease or injury in service, thus it cannot be service-connected.,There is no evidence of residuals of a traumatic brain injury related to service. The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of such condition.,The cervical spine disability claimed by the Veteran has not been diagnosed during service or post-service and there is no evidence linking it to service.,The left shoulder, right elbow, and right knee disabilities are not currently diagnosed in the Veteran's records and there is no evidence linking them to service.,There is no evidence of bilateral shoulder pain or strain, bilateral elbow pain or strain, or right knee pain or strain during service or post-service. The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions.,The right knee disability has not been diagnosed in the Veteran's records and there is no evidence linking it to service.
- Claimed conditions
- sickle cell trait, residuals of a traumatic brain injury, cervical spine disability (claimed as cervical spine pain or strain), left shoulder disability (claimed as bilateral shoulder pain or strain), right elbow disability (claimed as bilateral elbow pain or strain), right knee disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 31, 2024
- Citation
- A24042330
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 A24042330.
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