The Board found that the Veteran's current right forearm and shoulder disability did not manifest during active service, arthritis of the right upper extremity did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active service, and the current right forearm and shoulder disability is not etiologically related to active service or proximately due to, caused by, or aggravated by the service-connected right hand and thumb disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found no objective findings that would assist in identifying the cause of the Veteran's pain or provide an appropriate medical diagnosis for his current right forearm and shoulder disability. The examiner opined that if the Veteran had a complex regional pain syndrome, his right forearm and shoulder disability would have begun soon after the in-service injury and not 30 years later.
- Claimed conditions
- Right forearm and shoulder disability, Mental health disorder (to include depression)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 9, 2017
- Citation
- 1707261
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 1707261.
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
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.