The Board denied service connection for right hand stenosing tenosynovitis, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the condition and the Veteran's active service. The claims for bicep disability, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left hand stenosing tenosynovitis were remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The evidence of record does not support a finding that the Veteran's current conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. The February 2024 VA examiner provided opinions based on lack of encounters in service treatment records and symptoms commencing years after separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- right hand stenosing tenosynovitis, bicep disability (claimed as bicep tear), left knee, patellofemoral pain syndrome (claimed as knee condition, bilateral and tendonitis), right knee, patellofemoral pain syndrome (claimed as knee condition, bilateral and tendonitis), left hand stenosing tenosynovitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25023162
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 Veteran's service-connected left knee and right shoulder disabilities, along with compensation benefits awarded under 38 USC § 1151 for a right bicep detachment during shoulder surgery, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from December 22, 2011 to December 11, 2016.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for various conditions, including left eye condition, right eye condition, hypertension, left knee, right knee, obstructive sleep apnea, and coronary artery disease (CAD), as well as denied an earlier effective date for CAD.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a right leg disability, kidney cancer, including residuals, and bilateral knee disabilities as the evidence did not support that these conditions began during active service or are related to an in-service injury or disease.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for headaches, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, right knee, left knee, and right shoulder was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.
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