The Board found that the Veteran's claimed bilateral upper extremity disabilities are not related to his service, including as due to herbicide exposure or diabetes mellitus.
The deciding factor: VA medical opinions concluded that the Veteran's current upper extremity disabilities are less likely than not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Upper Extremity Disability, Right Upper Extremity Disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 3, 2013
- Citation
- 1314768
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 1314768.
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 the cases for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding service connection and exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's hearing loss is not compensably rated, and his neurological disorders are being reviewed for possible service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to errors in denying service connection on a direct basis without explaining why an examination and opinion considering direct service connection was not warranted.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a right upper extremity disability and denied an increased rating for GERD. The Veteran's TDIU claim was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran's testimony raises a claim for service connection of a right upper extremity disability as secondary to his service-connected right hand strain. The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA examinations and opinions regarding the nature, severity, and etiology of both the right hand strain and any related right upper extremity disabilities.
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.