The Board denied service connection for a neck disability and shoulders disability as there was no evidence of an in-service injury, disease or event that caused the current conditions, nor any evidence linking the current conditions to the Veteran's military service.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish an in-service incurrence or a link between the claimed disabilities and the Veteran's service, thus failing to meet the criteria for service connection under 38 U.S.C. § 1110 and 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
- Claimed conditions
- neck disability (claimed as rheumatoid arthritis of the neck), shoulders disability (claimed as rheumatoid arthritis of shoulders)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 8, 2025
- Citation
- A25032188
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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