The veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is rated at 10 percent disabling, and his laceration of the right little finger status post flexor digitorum profundus repair (major) does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.
The deciding factor: Both conditions are rated based on their specific diagnostic codes without any indication of service connection theory or exposure basis provided in the decision summary.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Degenerative Joint Disease, Laceration, Right Little Finger, Status Post Flexor Digitorum Profundus Repair (Major)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- October 4, 2002
- Citation
- 0213633
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 0213633.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and dismissed the claim for service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease. The claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, headache disability, and obstructive sleep apnea were remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to determine the impacts of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his ability to care for himself and his need for aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial disability rating for right knee degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's right thumb disability is currently rated at 10 percent and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.,The Veteran's right index finger disability is currently rated at 10 percent and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.,The Veteran's right long finger disability is currently rated at 10 percent and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.,The Veteran's right ring finger disability is currently rated at 0 percent (noncompensable) and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.,The Veteran's right little finger disability is currently rated at 0 percent (noncompensable) and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.
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