The Board has found that the Veteran's right hand strain disability was not present until more than one year following discharge and is not etiologically related to active-duty service. The left hand condition issue remains pending for further examination and opinion.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a nexus between the current right hand strain disability and active duty service, as there are no documented complaints or diagnoses of such during service or within one year post-service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right hand strain, Left hand condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 16, 2023
- Citation
- 23009988
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 23009988.
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 bilateral hearing loss, arthritis of the cervical spine, cervical radiculopathy of the left arm, back disability, left elbow condition, left shoulder condition, left wrist condition, left hand condition, hypertension, and an initial rating of 10 percent for coronary arteriosclerosis prior to September 24, 2024.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hand and lower extremity conditions as secondary to hypertension, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, and a 70 percent rating for PTSD.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's low back, neck, right hand, left hand, right knee, and left knee conditions as there was no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were related to active service or caused by any service-connected disability.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
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