The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand and right hand rheumatoid arthritis, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnoses and in-service herbicide exposure. The Board also found that there was not sufficient evidence to establish continuity of symptomatology.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran did not provide credible evidence linking his current rheumatoid arthritis to service or presumed herbicide exposure, and noted the lack of a nexus between his symptoms and in-service events.
- Claimed conditions
- left hand rheumatoid arthritis, right hand rheumatoid arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 6, 2022
- Citation
- A22006179
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 A22006179.
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 passed away before the Board could make a decision on her service connection claims for rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome. Her appeal is dismissed due to her death.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right and left chronic achilles tendonitis, right and left hand rheumatoid arthritis, Steven Johnson Syndrome, and an initial rating of 70 percent for Other Specified Trauma and Stressor-related disorder. The back disability claim was denied.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for left ankle and right hand rheumatoid arthritis as they were already pending at the AOJ.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and related disabilities are found to prevent him from working, and the case is being referred for extraschedular consideration.
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