The Board remands the claim for a left elbow condition, to include epicondylitis, as it requires additional evidence regarding whether the Veteran's condition preexisted service and was not aggravated by service.
The deciding factor: A clarifying medical opinion is needed regarding whether there was clear and unmistakable evidence of both preexistence of a left elbow defect and lack of its aggravation during service. If the presumption of soundness as to a left elbow defect has not been rebutted, the question is whether it is as likely as not that the condition is etiologically related to the Veteran's service.
- Claimed conditions
- left elbow condition, to include epicondylitis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25042409
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right foot disability, as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The appeals for service connection of prostate cancer, diabetes, GERD, and hypertension were dismissed due to the RO's subsequent grant of these conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including OSA, cervical spine condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and others, but dismissed appeals for obesity, TMJ, insomnia, left elbow, and right elbow. The Board also denied an earlier effective date for a 70% rating for acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including gastrointestinal, headache, foot, elbow, and hand conditions, as the evidence did not support a current diagnosis or symptoms related to these conditions during the pendency of the claims.
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