The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of various rheumatoid arthritis conditions, finding that no formal claim was submitted within one year of her intent to file and that she did not submit a completed VA Form 21-526EZ as required.
The deciding factor: VA received the Veteran's formal claim application more than one year after her intent to file, and there is insufficient evidence to rebut the presumption that VA mailed notification letters as required.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar spine rheumatoid arthritis, right thumb rheumatoid arthritis, right index finger rheumatoid arthritis, right long finger rheumatoid arthritis, right ring finger rheumatoid arthritis, right pinky finger rheumatoid arthritis, right knee rheumatoid arthritis, right ankle rheumatoid arthritis, right foot and toes rheumatoid arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 29, 2024
- Citation
- A24041608
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 A24041608.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the service connection for right knee rheumatoid arthritis and increased ratings for related conditions. The Board dismissed the appeal.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran passed away before the Board could make a decision on her service connection claims for rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome. Her appeal is dismissed due to her death.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's left and right thumb rheumatoid arthritis, effective March 16, 2019, and also granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of both hands.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right knee rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis but denied service connection for impaired fertility.
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