The Board finds that the Veteran's arthritis of the hands did not manifest during service and is not related to his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine, left and right thumbs. Therefore, service connection for arthritis of the hands is denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hand arthritis did not manifest within one year of service and was more likely age-related or attributable to other causes.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis of the hands
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 27, 2015
- Citation
- 1531907
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 1531907.
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: Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a foot condition due to lack of evidence supporting a link between the conditions and the Veteran's military service. The claim for arthritis of the hands was remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Granted
Service connection has been granted for arthritis of the cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, hands, right knee, left knee, migraine headaches, and sinus condition (to include allergic rhinitis).,Prostate cancer has also been granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that more information is needed regarding the Veteran's hand disability, and a remand is ordered to allow for further examination and consideration of his claim.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for PTSD, service connection for diabetes mellitus, and arthritis of the neck, spine, knees, and hands is dismissed as his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has already been granted.
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