The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right-hand disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct or secondary service connection. The Board also found that the preponderance of the evidence did not show that the Veteran’s current degenerative arthritis was related to his in-service right wrist laceration.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinion concluded that the Veteran's right-hand degenerative arthritis was less likely than not incurred during or as a result of service, including the in-service right hand laceration and his complaints of joint pain. The examiner also found no evidence to support a secondary service connection based on his service-connected right wrist tendonitis.
- Claimed conditions
- right-hand degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20061939
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 20061939.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right-hand index finger post fracture of middle and proximal phalanges and right-hand degenerative arthritis is denied as the maximum schedular rating available for limitation of motion of the index finger, whether with the dominant or nondominant hand, is 10 percent.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, instability, and total knee replacement, left knee scar, right-hand degenerative arthritis disability, left-hand osteoarthritis disability, and lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. The claims for left shoulder disability, higher evaluations for hip disabilities, and TDIU are remanded.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of all listed conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left-hand and right-hand degenerative arthritis due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is also being remanded for a new evaluation of his scar condition.
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