The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for her left thumb condition, scarring residuals of left thumb surgeries, and left thumb nerve damage due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions were proximately caused by VA negligence or fault.
The deciding factor: The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that her left thumb conditions resulted from VA negligence or fault in providing medical care.
- Claimed conditions
- left thumb condition, scarring residuals of left thumb surgeries, left thumb nerve damage
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19191201
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,170 · Granted: 38% (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 19191201.
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 appeal for service connection on multiple issues related to his neck, arm, and hand conditions is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claims will be reconsidered after these examinations.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. The claims for service connection have not been decided.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of various joint and muscle conditions, including left shoulder strain, limitation of flexion; right shoulder strain, limitation of flexion; left elbow strain, limitation of flexion; right elbow strain, limitation of flexion; left knee strain, limitation of flexion; right knee strain, limitation of flexion; left thumb condition; left index finger condition; left long finger condition; left ring finger condition; and left pinky finger condition. The Board also denied earlier effective dates for service connection of irritable bowel syndrome.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for multiple joint pain conditions, including left long finger condition, left elbow strain, and others. The Veteran's neck and back conditions are also addressed but with different ratings.
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