The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to February 1, 2023, for service connection of various finger disabilities and a left hip disorder. The appeal was dismissed as the Veteran did not provide good cause for failing to complete his intent to file within one year of submitting it on June 28, 2021.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence of timely filing due to the COVID-19 pandemic extension and thus denied the effective date claims. The service connection claim for a left hip disorder was also denied as there was no medical evidence linking the current hip disorder to service or any service-connected disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Arthritis of Left Index Finger, Degenerative Arthritis of Left Long Finger, Degenerative Arthritis of Left Ring Finger, Degenerative Arthritis of Left Little Finger, Degenerative Arthritis of Left Thumb, Degenerative Arthritis of Right Index Finger, Degenerative Arthritis of Right Long Finger, Degenerative Arthritis of Right Ring Finger, Degenerative Arthritis of Right Little Finger, Degenerative Arthritis of Right Thumb, Left Hip Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 8, 2026
- Citation
- A26032696
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26032696.
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 has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left hip disorders due to a pre-decisional error in obtaining an adequate nexus opinion prior to the June 2021 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for a left hip disorder and hearing loss, but has remanded the claim for COPD due to potential errors in the decision-making process.
- Granted
The Veteran's right and left hip disorders are granted service connection as the evidence supports an in-service injury and continuity of symptoms.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of a current diagnosis for VA purposes, but tinnitus is granted as it began during service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. Additional medical opinions are needed to address the etiology of these conditions.
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