The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right elbow disorders to correct duty to assist errors, as there was insufficient evidence at the time of the April 2024 rating decision to warrant an examination.
The deciding factor: A remand is necessary to afford the Veteran a VA examination to more fully evaluate his claim due to the July 2023 lay statement describing in-service left and right elbow pain that was continuous since separation and limited his ability to lift, push, pull, do yard work, play sports, exercise, lift weights, and play with his children.
- Claimed conditions
- left elbow disorder, to include left elbow pain, right elbow disorder, to include right elbow pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 18, 2025
- Citation
- A25035838
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity, lumbar radiculopathy as they were already granted. The claims for service connection for a right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, and cervical spine disorder are remanded for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a left elbow disorder to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's condition, including whether it is related to service or secondary to service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders, including a lumbar spine disorder, left elbow disorder, and others, to correct duty to assist errors.
- Dismissed
The Board denied the veteran's appeals for service connection for headaches, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, and right shoulder disorder due to untimely filings.
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