The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hand disabilities, including palindromic rheumatism and thumb CMC arthritis, are not related to his active duty service. The VA examiner opined that it is less likely than not that these conditions had their onset during or were otherwise related to active service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hand disabilities did not have their onset during or be otherwise related to active service, and there was no evidence of symptoms attributable to any current diagnosis in service.
- Claimed conditions
- palindromic rheumatism, bilateral thumb CMC arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 16, 2016
- Citation
- 1610780
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1610780.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's Felty's Syndrome and associated conditions are remanded for further examination to determine the severity of his symptoms, including incapacitating episodes and interactions with other diagnoses. The appeal is also remanded to determine whether a separate diagnostic code should be used.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions aggravated his arthritis of multiple joints, including palindromic rheumatism.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to misfiled service records and requests an addendum opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's arthritis of multiple joints.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has ordered the removal of misfiled service records and requested an addendum opinion to determine if arthritis of multiple joints, including palindromic rheumatism, is related to active service or caused by or aggravated by service-connected conditions.
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.