The Board found that the Veteran's right hand, wrist and fingers disability did not begin during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury.
The deciding factor: There was no evidence of a chronic injury or neuropathic symptoms at the time of the 1976 injury, and the current condition is attributed to cubital tunnel syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Hand/Wrist Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20081321
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,185 · Granted: 28% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
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 20081321.
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 Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right hand/wrist disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic condition related to such a disability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The rating for bilateral hearing loss was improperly reduced, and the original 50% rating is restored. The right hand/wrist disability claim has been remanded due to insufficient evidence.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the nature and etiology of various disabilities, including PTSD, right hand/wrist disability, lumbar spine condition, left knee disability, right knee disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The Board has also determined that verification of the Veteran's in-service stressors is needed.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for residuals of a fracture of the fourth toe of the left foot, finding no evidence of current disability resulting from an inservice injury. The right hand/wrist issue remains pending.
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