The Board denied service connection for frostbite of the legs, frostbite of the left hand, degenerative joint disease of the hands (claimed as arthritis secondary to frostbite), back disorder, right carpal tunnel syndrome (claimed as arms condition secondary to frostbite), diffuse calcification, peripheral vascular disease, of the left radial and ulnar arteries (claimed as arms condition and circulatory problems secondary to frostbite), peripheral vascular disease of the legs (claimed as circulatory problems secondary to frostbite), and calcaneal spurs, degenerative joint disease, of the feet (claimed as secondary to frostbite).
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's claims lacked credibility due to his vague recollection of a cold injury at an indeterminate point during service and his failure to report or seek treatment for such injuries. The examiner's opinions were deemed not probative due to the presence of other factors that could also account for the Veteran's symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- frostbite of the legs, frostbite of the left hand, degenerative joint disease of the hands (claimed as arthritis secondary to frostbite), back disorder, right carpal tunnel syndrome (claimed as arms condition secondary to frostbite), diffuse calcification, peripheral vascular disease, of the left radial and ulnar arteries (claimed as arms condition and circulatory problems secondary to frostbite), peripheral vascular disease of the legs (claimed as circulatory problems secondary to frostbite), calcaneal spurs, degenerative joint disease, of the feet (claimed as secondary to frostbite)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 4, 2009
- Citation
- 0907861
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
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