The Board has determined that the effective dates for service connection of traumatic arthritis of the left thumb and residuals of a right great toe fracture cannot be earlier than January 28, 2002 due to lack of an initial claim prior to this date.
The deciding factor: The veteran did not submit any written communication expressing an intent to apply for service connection for these disabilities until his January 28, 2002 application was received by the RO. The effective date is therefore denied as it would be earlier than when a formal claim was filed.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic arthritis of the left thumb, Residuals of a right great toe fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 4, 2005
- Citation
- 0521029
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0521029.
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: Denied
The Veteran's appeals for effective dates prior to March 12, 2015 for service connection of traumatic arthritis of the left thumb, residuals of carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity, and deviated nasal septum have been denied.,The RO assigned an effective date of March 12, 2015, for each grant of service connection. The Veteran did not file any claims prior to this date that would support earlier effective dates.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for residuals of a right great toe fracture, effective from July 23, 2015. Prior to this date, the Veteran's disability was rated as moderately severe.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board finds that the Veteran's traumatic arthritis of the left hand does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5228. The disability more nearly approximates the 10 percent rating criteria for his left thumb under this diagnostic code, and he does not meet a higher rating criteria.
- Whole decision: Denied
The veteran's service-connected right knee disability, right great toe fracture, and allergic rhinitis were not found to warrant a compensable rating prior to January 20, 2005.
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