The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left elbow disability and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder, finding that there was no current diagnosis of these conditions during the appeal period. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating for his PTSD.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment due to the Veteran's unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder, despite some occupational impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- left elbow disability, unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2026
- Citation
- A26001645
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A26001645.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and potential secondary service connection theories.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection for anxiety, sinusitis, a cervical spine disability, a left elbow disability, and a right hip disability.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder and unspecified depressive disorder with an effective date of September 23, 2011. The decision is based on newly received service medical records that were not available when the original claim was decided in January 2013.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of the claimed bilateral finger, wrist, elbow, and shoulder disabilities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.
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