The Veteran's claims for arthritis in the right hand and DJD in the thoracolumbar spine are granted. The claim for arthritis in the left hand is denied as it was not caused by or worsened by the service-connected right shoulder DJD.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the left hand arthritis did not have its onset in service and is more likely due to age or hereditary factors than the service-connected right shoulder disability.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis in the right hand, arthritis in the left hand, DJD in the thoracolumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19180623
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,200 · Granted: 43% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19180623.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for arthritis in the left hand and degenerative joint disease (DJD) in the thoracolumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's symptoms have been continuous since service separation.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has ordered a remand due to the inadequacy of the February 2013 VA medical opinion, which did not explain why the Veteran's age at the time of his examination was relevant or why the lack of ongoing chronic treatment for frostbite indicated that the current diagnosis was unrelated to the in-service frostbite.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection and increased ratings for right hand arthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left shoulder disabilities due to additional development being required.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's appeal to reopen service connection for residuals of a left distal radius fracture is granted. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a left distal radius fracture with arthritis.
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