The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right thumb degenerative arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of a link between these conditions and his active duty service.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and private medical records did not find any evidence linking the current thumb disorders to service, with the exception of an old styloid fracture in one hand. The Veteran's complaints began years after discharge, raising doubts about their connection to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Left thumb degenerative arthritis, Right thumb degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 7, 2022
- Citation
- 22067491
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 22067491.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for cervical strain with degenerative disc disease, right and left thumb, index, long, ring, and little finger degenerative arthritis, and right knee tendonitis. However, a separate rating of 10 percent was granted for the group of minor joints composed of the right and left ring and little fingers.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the withholding of VA compensation benefits to recoup separation pay in the amount of $23,484.38 was proper and this appeal is denied as a matter of law.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's cervical spine condition is remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2017 VA examination.,The Veteran's left knee condition is remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2017 VA examination.,The Veteran's right thumb and left thumb conditions are remanded for clarification of diagnosis and determination of service connection.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition is remanded for an addendum opinion on its relationship to service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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