The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including hand impairments, hearing loss, PTSD, depression, sleep apnea, shortness of breath, and GERD, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active military service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current bilateral hand disabilities, diagnosed as bilateral hand strain, did not have their onset during service, did not result from an in-service disease or injury, and are not otherwise caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.
- Claimed conditions
- index finger impairment of the left hand, little finger impairment of the left hand, long finger impairment of the left hand, ring finger impairment of the left hand, thumb impairment of the left hand, index finger impairment of the right hand, little finger impairment of the right hand, long finger impairment of the right hand, ring finger impairment of the right hand, thumb impairment of the right hand, bilateral hearing loss, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, sleep apnea, shortness of breath, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25058812
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
- 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 Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others were remanded.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.