The veteran's Dupuytren's contractures of the left hand were rated at 10 percent from March 4, 1982 to October 13, 1986; 20 percent from October 14, 1986 to July 7, 1992; 30 percent from July 8, 1992 to May 8, 1994; and 50 percent since May 9, 1994.
The deciding factor: The veteran's Dupuytren's contractures of the left hand were manifested by flexion contracture affecting the little finger, with limitation of motion analogous to unfavorable ankylosis for the period beginning May 9, 1994.
- Claimed conditions
- Dupuytren's contractures
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 26, 2002
- Citation
- 0203877
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 0203877.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hand arthritis and Dupuytren's contractures secondary to type II Diabetes Mellitus (DM) due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected DM.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an autoimmune disease of unspecified diagnosis, originally claimed as multifocal fibrosclerosis and manifested by scleroderma, Raynaud's disease, Sjögren's syndrome, Peyronie's disease, and Dupuytren's contractures. The evidence now shows that loss of teeth in service was due to Sjögren's disease, an autoimmune condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found no evidence that the Veteran's current right hand disability, including Dupuytren's contractures and arthritis, is related to his service-connected left knee disability. The claim for secondary service connection was denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran was granted service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II, diabetic retinopathy and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as complications of his diabetes, hypertension, and Dupuytren's contractures. Service connection is also granted for essential hypertension, but not related to herbicide exposure.
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