The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hand disorder and a bilateral knee disorder. The claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is remanded.,The Veteran was not granted service connection for his claimed conditions as they are considered to be due to natural progression or delayed-onset allergic rhinitis, respectively.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support a direct link between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service. The Board found that the Veteran's right hand arthritis is more likely related to natural aging rather than service, and his bilateral knee disorder was deemed to be due to delayed-onset allergic rhinitis.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Right Hand Arthritis","diagnosis_details":"Mild degenerative changes in the DIP and PIP joints"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Knee Disorder","diagnosis_details":"No current diagnosis associated with knees, no functional loss or impairment noted on examination."}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20067228
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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