The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the right hand, finding that there is no current diagnosis of this condition and attributing any symptoms to his already service-connected fractures.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence reflecting a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis of the right hand, and the Veteran's pain and functional limitations have been attributed by both VA and private examiners as the result of his already service-connected fractures of the right third and fourth metacarpals.
- Claimed conditions
- rheumatoid arthritis of the right hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 15, 2023
- Citation
- 23009575
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 23009575.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of various body parts due to in-service exposure to hazardous materials, as an addendum opinion is needed.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the left hand and right hand have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of these claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of multiple joints due to conflicting medical opinions from a VA examiner.
- Granted
The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities prior to December 21, 2017.
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