The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting right fifth finger disability did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service, and no chronic right wrist disorder was incurred or aggravated inservice.,Regarding the left ankle issue, there is no evidence of an in-service occurrence of a left ankle injury. The current left ankle sprain is also not linked to active service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's preexisting conditions did not undergo any increase in severity during service and are not related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Fifth Finger/Wrist Disability, Left Ankle Sprain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 13, 2016
- Citation
- 1601510
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 1601510.
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: Granted
The Veteran's PTSD, sleep apnea, hypertension, right MCA stroke with left-sided hemiplegia and major neurocognitive impairment, headaches, left ankle sprain, cervical sprain, and lumbar disc disease are all granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted restoration of the Veteran's ratings for his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities from 30% to 10%, effective November 1, 2020.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted an initial 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss but denied a higher rating and also denied an increased rating for left ankle sprain.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding functional ankylosis and aggravation of obstructive sleep apnea by service-connected disabilities.
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