The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left little finger arthritis and left wrist/hand disabilities are not related to service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners concluded that the Veteran's current left little finger arthritis and left wrist/hand disabilities are less likely than not related to service due to lack of objective findings in service records and a normal aging process rather than well-healed superficial lacerations incurred during service.
- Claimed conditions
- left little finger arthritis, left wrist and hand disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 24, 2014
- Citation
- 1456599
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 1456599.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew her appeal for the claims of right little finger arthritis, right ring finger arthritis, left little finger arthritis, and left ring finger arthritis at a hearing before the Board.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not timely filed within one year of the rating decisions issued on June 25, 2024, and September 11, 2024. The Veteran did not provide good cause for the late filing.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist and hand disability, as well as her claim for bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete development of records.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and a VA audiological examination, as well as for an opinion on the etiology of hearing loss.
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.