The Board found that the Veteran's left hand disability, other than radiculopathy, is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected cervical spine disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided a rationale concluding that there is no evidence in orthopedic literature indicating that a cervical spine disability can cause or aggravate degenerative joint disease in the left hand.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Left Hand
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2014
- Citation
- 1449721
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 1449721.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for various service-connected disabilities due to incomplete medical records and the need for updated VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left hand was denied. The Board found that his symptoms did not warrant such a rating.,The Veteran’s claim for an extraschedular evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the left hand is remanded to determine if it warrants consideration outside the regular schedular criteria.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and multiple joint disorders, are found to be severe enough to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
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