The VA examiner found that the Veteran's osteoarthritis in both hands was less likely than not incurred in or caused by service-connected PTSD and/or Raynaud's phenomenon. The Board concluded that the preponderance of evidence is against entitlement to service connection for arthritis of the bilateral hands, as secondary to service-connected PTSD and/or Raynaud's phenomenon.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that osteoarthritis can damage any joint in the body but there is no evidence to suggest that it causes or aggravates osteoarthritis. The Veteran’s history of continued symptomatology since active service was considered, but found not credible due to lack of clinical evidence and inconsistent with other evidence submitted on behalf of the claimant.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis of the bilateral hands
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 23, 2015
- Citation
- 1517574
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1517574.
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 that a disability rating greater than 50 percent for other specified trauma and stress-related disorder is denied, service connection for arthritis of the bilateral knees, shoulders, hands, hips, elbows, and ankles is granted, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder has been remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that arthritis of the bilateral hands and arthritis of the bilateral shoulders are not related to active service, thus denying these claims.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for arthritis of the bilateral hands and feet, but denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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