The veteran's service-connected right third and fifth finger disorders have been rated at 30 percent since December 9, 1994. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of this rating.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows unfavorable ankylosis of the right middle finger PIP joint with limited motion and slight deformity of the right fifth metacarpophalangeal joint, warranting a 30 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Codes 5219 and 5223.
- Claimed conditions
- ankylosis of the right third proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint, slight deformity and limited motion of the right fifth metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 21, 2000
- Citation
- 0022152
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0022152.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Whole decision: Granted
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