The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for contractures of the little finger and thumb in the left hand, finding that this level of disability warrants such a rating based on Diagnostic Code 5223.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence demonstrated ankylosis-like impairment of the left little finger and thumb, which approximated the criteria required for a 20 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5223.
- Claimed conditions
- Contractures of little finger and thumb
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 15, 2002
- Citation
- 0209894
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 0209894.
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.
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- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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