The VA determined that there are no residuals of the service-connected fracture of the right fifth metacarpal, and thus a compensable rating is not warranted.
The deciding factor: Medical evidence does not show current functional loss or residual disability related to the service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Fracture of the right fifth metacarpal
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 10, 2003
- Citation
- 0300550
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,435 · Granted: 22% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0300550.
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 denied an initial compensable rating for the Veteran's fracture of the right fifth metacarpal, finding that his disability did not more nearly approximate ankylosis or amputation.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis as of February 8, 2007 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities making it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected fracture of the right fifth metacarpal has not been manifested by ankylosis and does not interfere with the overall function of the hand, thus preventing a compensable evaluation.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected right hand conditions, including a fracture to the fifth metacarpal and degenerative arthritis, are currently rated as 10 percent disabling.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.