The Veteran's claims for residual scarring from right shoulder arthroscopic surgery, histoplasmosis with lung tissue scarring, and osteoarthritis of the left hand were denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during his service or at any point thereafter.
The deciding factor: There was no current disability found in the record for any of the claimed conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- residual scarring from right shoulder arthroscopic surgery, histoplasmosis with lung tissue scarring, osteoarthritis of the left hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 27, 2009
- Citation
- 0915685
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 0915685.
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 Board has remanded several claims due to the submission of additional evidence and a need for further development. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reconsidered.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, including chest wall discomfort and osteoarthritis of the left hand. The case is being remanded for an addendum medical opinion addressing the combined effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his occupational functioning.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left hand, effective January 28, 2019. The earlier effective dates for arthritis of the left index finger and ring fingers were also granted.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right hand and left hand, finding that the Veteran's prolonged use of a cane due to his service-connected knees and right ankle disabilities caused or aggravated his bilateral hand osteoarthritis.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.