The Veteran's prescription drug dependence is granted as secondary to her service-connected right thumb injury. The initial disability rating for the residuals of her right thumb injury remains at 20 percent, and a separate issue regarding Bell's Palsy is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's prescription drug dependence was found to be secondary to her service-connected right thumb injury due to her use of prescribed narcotics to manage pain from the injury.
- Claimed conditions
- prescription drug dependence, right thumb injury
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19108834
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,776 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19108834.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for residuals of a spider bite, right thumb injury, and right knee injury due to insufficient evidence or further evaluation.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for status post reconstruction of right nasal side-wall defect with advancement flap with pharyngitis and remanded the other issues.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right wrist disability, including pain and a condition affecting his thumb, is related to an injury he sustained during active military service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that there are gaps in the Veteran's VA medical records, particularly from December 2013 to present. The Board also noted inconsistencies in previous examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed right thumb injury and bilateral toe onychomycosis. Therefore, the Board has ordered a remand for further development.
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.