The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected left long finger disability, effective August 26, 2002. This rating is based on interference with overall hand function due to ankylosis at the proximal interphalangeal joint.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner determined that interference with overall hand function was caused by ankylosis of the left long finger's proximal interphalangeal joint, leading to catching issues in clothing and other functional limitations.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Long Finger Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 28, 2004
- Citation
- 0411125
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,699 · Granted: 17% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0411125.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder bursitis, right foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and other hand disabilities, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as of November 1, 2020. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected left index finger disability, left long finger disability, and left hand scars were denied. The evidence showed arthritis with painful motion in the affected fingers and scars on the hands.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues except service connection for sinusitis, which was dismissed. The remaining appeals were also dismissed as the Veteran expressed satisfaction with his current combined disability rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the reduction from a 20 percent rating to a noncompensable rating for limitation of motion of the left thumb was improper. The Veteran's appeal is now remanded for further evaluation and consideration.
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.