The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection related to psoriatic arthritis and associated conditions have been denied. The RO awarded separate evaluations for limitation of motion of the right hand, left hand, and left wrist as secondary to service-connected psoriasis with various disability ratings starting from March 6, 2013. The Veteran's claims were subsequently adjusted to reflect unfavorable ankylosis of digits in his hands and favorable ankylosis of his left wrist effective October 24, 2012.
The deciding factor: The RO denied earlier effective dates as the medical evidence did not show treatment for ankylosis prior to October 24, 2012, and there was no showing of clear and unmistakable error in previous denials.
- Claimed conditions
- Psoriatic Arthritis, Unfavorable Ankylosis of Four Digits of Right Hand (previously limitation of motion of thumb, index finger and long finger), Unfavorable Ankylosis of Three Digits of Left Hand (previously limitation of motion of thumb, index finger and long finger), Favorable Ankylosis of Left Wrist, Psoriatic Arthritis of Right Shoulder, Psoriatic Arthritis of Left Shoulder, Limitation of Extension of Right Hip (psoriatic arthritis), Psoriatic Arthritis of Right Hip with Impairment of Thigh (psoriatic arthritis), Limitation of Extension of Left Hip (psoriatic arthritis), Psoriatic Arthritis of Left Knee
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19165645
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 19165645.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bilateral upper extremities pain, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), and squamous cell carcinoma of the anus as secondary to service-connected hepatitis C. However, psoriatic arthritis was denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity sciatica associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, but remanded claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep apnea.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his lung cancer was related to his service-connected melanoma.
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