The Board denied service connection for an upper back rib dislocation disorder and a bilateral hand disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service.,Specifically, the Board determined that there is no evidence of any chronic disease or injury during service, and the current disorders do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found insufficient clinical evidence to support a diagnosis of a bilateral hand condition and concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral hand weakness, numbness, and tingling are not related to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Upper back rib dislocation disorder","diagnosis_date":null,"service_connection_theory":"direct"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral hand disorder","diagnosis_date":null,"service_connection_theory":"presumptive (undiagnosed illness)"}
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20005755
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
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.