The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, and disabilities affecting each finger as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease, including exposure to toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs).

The deciding factor: The medical opinions of record indicated no causal relationship between the TERAs and the Veteran's current conditions.

Claimed conditions

rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, left thumb disability, left index finger disability, left middle finger disability, left ring finger disability, left little finger disability, right thumb disability, right index finger disability, right middle finger disability, right ring finger disability, right little finger disability

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 8, 2025

Citation

A25087177

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine