The Board found that the Veteran's left thumb limitation of motion is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left hand scar or metallic foreign body, and there was no gap of more than one inch between the pad of his left thumb and other fingers when attempting to oppose them. The Veteran does not have ankylosis of his left thumb.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show that the Veteran's service-connected scars caused or aggravated his limitation of function in his left thumb, nor was there a gap greater than one inch between the pad of his left thumb and other fingers when attempting to oppose them.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Thumb Scar from Shrapnel Wound, Metallic Foreign Body in Left Hand (Shell Fragment Wound)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 22, 2017
- Citation
- 1717689
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1717689.
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).
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