The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right thumb condition did not begin during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The evidence does not show a chronic right thumb condition manifested within one year of separation from service and there is no continuity of symptomatology after service.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not establish that the Veteran's current right thumb condition is related to his active service, including an in-service injury during a fight with a fellow soldier. The Board finds the December 2022 VA medical opinion more probative as it considered the Veteran's lay statements and other medical records.
- Claimed conditions
- Right thumb condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 3, 2023
- Citation
- 23013176
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 23013176.
What this means for you
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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 left and right knee conditions, as well as a neck condition, to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining a VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's right thumb condition. The examiner is asked to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current right thumb pain is related to his active service, including heavy lifting and exposure to cold weather, or if it is caused by or resulted from his service-connected right hand cold injuries.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) for the period from March 22, 2012 to June 15, 2014 due to incomplete records and further evidentiary development is needed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine condition and a right thumb condition due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran contends his conditions are related to in-service injuries, but the VA examiner did not provide sufficient rationale or consider all relevant medical evidence.
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