The Board denied increased ratings for lacerations of the left thumb and right middle finger, finding that the veteran's conditions did not meet criteria for higher ratings based on functional impairment.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed limited motion but no ankylosis or amputation equivalent to the required criteria for higher ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- laceration of the left thumb, laceration of the right middle finger
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 22, 2001
- Citation
- 0105457
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 0105457.
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).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that there is no evidence to support service connection for a twisted middle finger, and the Veteran's current right middle finger disability is related to his service-connected laceration of the right middle finger. The claim for service connection for a twisted middle finger was denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating prior to March 12, 2012 was denied. However, the claim for an increased rating from March 12, 2012 was granted and assigned a 10% rating.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the case must be remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and records, as well as to clarify the cause of the Veteran's death and the etiology of his disabilities.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing notice of the new criteria for evaluating scars.
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