The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right index finger injury, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury and insufficient medical opinion to establish a nexus between his current disability and military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s current right index finger disability did not have its onset during or within one year after service, and there was no competent medical evidence linking it to an in-service injury.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a right index finger injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20007467
Veterans Law Judge
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 20007467.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal in its entirety, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review the appeal.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, finding that his functional impairments due to bilateral pes planus and other conditions render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's residuals of a right index finger injury are granted a 10 percent disability rating. The Veteran's hypertension associated with HIV related illness is granted a non-compensable rating, and the Veteran's bilateral spermatocele (testes) is also granted a non-compensable rating. However, the Veteran's djd of the lumbar spine remains at a non-compensable rating.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.
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