The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a left small finger disability causally or etiologically related to active service. The competent and credible evidence of record does not support this claim.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the current left small finger disability is less likely as not related to his military service, attributing it instead to ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.
- Claimed conditions
- left small finger disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 18, 2015
- Citation
- 1548601
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 1548601.
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's appeals for service connection on the merits of various conditions have been dismissed due to a prohibited concurrent election. The claims were pending before the RO pursuant to an HLR request when VA received the Veteran's appeal.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
Your appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and a left small finger disability have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board cannot issue a decision on these claims as they are no longer pending.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals to reopen claims for various disabilities due to the appellant's death.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for heart disability, right eye macular hole, left eye disability, right small finger disability, and left small finger disability were denied. The claim for service connection for a right eye condition other than a macular hole was granted due to new evidence showing current diagnoses of cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal scars. However, the preponderance of the evidence did not support finding that any of these disabilities began during active service or were related to in-service injuries.
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