The Board found that the Veteran did not incur an additional disability, including recurrent staph infections, due to a 1982 VA surgery. The opinion from the independent medical expert (IME) concluded it was less likely than not that the Veteran incurred these conditions as a result of the surgery.
The deciding factor: The IME found the chain of logic connecting the 1982 surgery to recurrent staph infections and amputation to be clinically implausible.
- Claimed conditions
- recurrent staph infections, left index finger amputation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 25, 2017
- Citation
- 1718439
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 1718439.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for recurrent staph infections has been denied as there is no new and relevant evidence received since the July 2015 rating decision.,The appeal of a proposed reduction in the PTSD disability rating to 50% was dismissed because it was not an appealable final decision.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric condition required his wife to assist him in managing medication and ensuring he did not leave the stove on, as well as helping with daily activities like cooking and money management. The Board found that this necessitated regular aid and attendance due to his cognitive impairment.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for recurrent staph infections status post inguinal hernia repair is dismissed due to his death.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for amputations of the left index, middle, and pinky fingers due to a March 2010 VA medical care, finding no evidence of negligence or fault on VA's part.
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