The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as his claim for residuals of smoking. The decision also noted that discontinuance of the vocational rehabilitation program was warranted.
The deciding factor: No new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the previously denied claim for numbness of the distal phalanx of the left ring finger. The veteran's alcoholism is considered a result of his own willful misconduct, and service connection cannot be granted. The claim for residuals of smoking also lacks legal merit.
- Claimed conditions
- numbness of the distal phalanx of the left ring finger, left knee disability, right hip disability, right shoulder disability
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 3, 2007
- Citation
- 0737949
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0737949.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the July 2012 VA examination for the Veteran's left knee disability, and a new addendum opinion is needed.
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