The Veteran's service connection claims for cold injury residuals and knee osteoarthritis were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the first metatarsophalangeal joints of both feet, but not for his hands or wrists.,Service connection for right wrist carpal tunnel surgery under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any treatment for cold injuries to the hands and feet. The April 2011 VA examiner opined that his degenerative joint disease of the first metatarsophalangeal joints of both feet were at least as likely as not caused by cold injury, but did not find a link between cold injury and his wrists or bilateral medial neuropathy.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the First Metatarsophalangeal Joints of the Bilateral Feet, Degenerative Joint Disease of the Bilateral Wrists, Bilateral Medial Neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 19, 2012
- Citation
- 1236409
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1236409.
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).
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