The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left thumb sprain and varicose veins, as there is no current disability found. The Veteran did not have a chronic condition during or after service.
The deciding factor: There was no current medical diagnosis supporting the presence of a left thumb sprain or varicose veins in the Veteran's hands, despite his reported symptoms and history of injury.
- Claimed conditions
- sprain of the left thumb, varicose veins of the lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 26, 2009
- Citation
- 0924077
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 0924077.
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: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for varicose veins of the lower extremities and denied an initial rating higher than 50 percent for a mental health disability.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for varicose veins of the lower extremities, finding that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral lower extremity varicose veins are related to his service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim for further development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, including those from the Atlanta VAMC and Dr. George.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule him for examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including right shoulder disability, hypertension, heart disability (mitral valve prolapse), PTSD, TBI, lumbar strain, and need for aid and attendance.
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