The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right thumb disability, stating that the additional disability was not the result of an unforeseeable event arising from endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery in 2017.
The deciding factor: The Board concluded that the nonunion of the right thumb proximal phalanx was not the result of an unforeseeable event arising out of the carpal tunnel release surgery, as the condition predated the surgery and there was no evidence linking it to the procedure.
- Claimed conditions
- right thumb disability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 10, 2025
- Citation
- 25009032
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including gastrointestinal issues, foot problems, ED, hemorrhoids, hernia, hypertension, nerve conditions in the lower extremities, shoulder and thumb issues, except for right ear hearing loss which was granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for a new examination to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the evaluation of the Veteran's right thumb disability.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder, lumbosacral strain, right elbow burn scars, pseudofolliculitis barbae, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, low testosterone, and left knee disability. However, service connection was granted for TBI, left forehead scar, and left arm scars.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and G6PD deficiency. The initial rating for the right thumb disability was also denied.
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