The Board denied the claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type 2, arthritis of the right hand, residuals of metacarpal fracture of the 4th digit of the right hand, and nerve damage of the right wrist as secondary to a service-connected disability. The claim for a compensable evaluation for the service-connected fracture of the 5th digit of the right hand was also denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support that the Veteran's claimed conditions were proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of fracture of the 5th digit of the right hand, and the Veteran is not competent to provide a nexus opinion regarding these issues.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type 2, arthritis of the right hand, residuals of metacarpal fracture of the 4th digit of the right hand, nerve damage of the right wrist (right carpal tunnel syndrome)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 8, 2025
- Citation
- 25004751
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.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
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