The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date of service connection for left thumb tendonitis and a higher initial disability rating for bilateral glaucoma, and remanded several other claims for further development.

The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date as requested by the veteran, and there was insufficient documentation to warrant a higher rating for his glaucoma based on incapacitating episodes.

Claimed conditions

left thumb tendonitis, bilateral glaucoma, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as right arm numbness), left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as left arm numbness), cervical spine disability, right shoulder chondrocalcinosis (claimed as right shoulder tendonitis), left shoulder degenerative arthritis (claimed as left shoulder tendonitis), right elbow strain (claimed as right elbow tendonitis), left elbow strain (claimed as left elbow tendonitis), right wrist strain (claimed as right wrist tendonitis), left wrist strain (claimed as left wrist tendonitis), right hand sprain (claimed as right hand tendonitis)

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 20, 2025

Citation

A25090122

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