The Board denied service connection for residuals of right thumb injury, finding no current disability related to the in-service thumb injury and that the Veteran did not have a nexus between his current conditions and service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner determined that the currently diagnosed disorders were not related to service and provided rationales for this determination.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of right thumb injury, carpometacarpal arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20048235
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 20048235.
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 Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right thumb disability. The Veteran is required to provide VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a clinician.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for additional VA examinations regarding his right and left thumb disabilities, as well as any bilateral eye disability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for a Travel Board hearing before a third Veterans Law Judge at the RO.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for residuals of right thumb injury, finding that his symptoms are related to service. The claims for chronic headaches and right ear infection will be remanded for further development.
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