The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ring finger disability and a thoracolumbar spine (lower back) disability. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions, and there was no evidence linking them to her active duty service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not provide sufficient medical evidence to establish that she had a current left ring finger or lower back disability that was related to her military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Ring Finger Disability, Thoracolumbar Spine (Lower Back) Disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 10, 2018
- Citation
- 1801512
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 1801512.
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: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed disabilities and therefore, service connection for right thumb, left thumb, right index finger, left index finger, right middle finger, left middle finger, right ring finger, left ring finger, right small finger, or left small finger disabilities is denied.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for adjustment disorder with anxiety and denied higher ratings for the left and right knee disabilities, as well as service connection for various other conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the reduction from a 20 percent rating to a noncompensable rating for limitation of motion of the left thumb was improper. The Veteran's appeal is now remanded for further evaluation and consideration.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee disability. The Veteran's current right knee disability is found not to be related to his active military service, as there is no evidence of continuous or recurrent symptoms during service or within one year after separation from service. Service connection for secondary disabilities (back, left ring finger, and right shoulder) was also denied due to lack of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active service.
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