The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 5, 2018 for a 10 percent rating for his left thumb disability and also denied his claim for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: There was no evidence of an increase in disability within one year prior to the receipt of the claim for increased compensation.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Thumb Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 6, 2023
- Citation
- 23059666
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 23059666.
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: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed disabilities and therefore, service connection for right thumb, left thumb, right index finger, left index finger, right middle finger, left middle finger, right ring finger, left ring finger, right small finger, or left small finger disabilities is denied.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for several disabilities, including left thumb, left wrist, right hip, back, and sciatic nerve conditions, but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for TBI, RLE radicular pain, sinusitis, and an increased rating for PTSD. The claims for service connection for DM II, ED, headaches, left thumb disability and scar, right thumb, increased ratings for rhinitis, IBS with GERD, and OSA with bronchitis were remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, back pain, left thumb disability, and PTSD due to missing service treatment records.
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