The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a right thumb disorder was denied as the earliest date entitlement could be considered is April 23, 2004.
The deciding factor: The effective date cannot precede the date of receipt of the reopened claim on April 23, 2004.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Thumb Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 29, 2014
- Citation
- 1447954
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 1447954.
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: Granted
The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder and cannabis use was granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent. Other service connection claims were denied or remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right thumb disorder, finding that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating based on current medical evidence. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cervical spine disorder. Service connection was granted for tinnitus. The Board also found that the Veteran's right thumb disorder did not have its onset during active service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right thumb disorder and diabetes mellitus type II. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule VA examinations.,Service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension is also being remanded due to incomplete record development.
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