The veteran's service-connected right hand disorder is manifested by functional impairment analogous to loss of use of that hand, and he has demonstrated loss of use of the left hand. The criteria for additional compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1160 are met.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected right hand disorder results in functional impairment equivalent to loss of use of both hands, meeting the criteria for special consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 3.383.
- Claimed conditions
- Residual, gunshot wound, right forearm with nerve damage of all extensors and most flexures of arm and hand, with fusion of wrist, Loss of use of left hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- June 5, 2003
- Citation
- 0311583
Veterans Law Judge
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0311583.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) was denied as the evidence did not show that he required personal health-care services provided on a daily basis in his home by a person who is licensed to provide such services or under the regular supervision of a licensed health-care professional.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation for the loss of use of his left hand due to service-connected disability, with a rating of 50%.
- Granted
The Veteran's depressive disorder and loss of use of his left hand resulted in a combined disability rating of 80 percent, qualifying for TDIU. The Veteran is granted an initial 70 percent disability rating for depressive disorder effective April 11, 2014, and TDIU effective June 25, 2009.
- Denied
The Veteran's conditions do not render him unable to adequately attend to the needs of daily living without the regular aid and attendance of another person, thus he does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance.
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