The Board found that the veteran's service-connected right hand disorder, characterized by avulsion fracture of the distal tip of the right fifth finger and a fracture of the mid and proximal shaft of the right fourth metacarpal with nerve damage to the dorsal cutaneous branch of the right ulnar nerve, is not more than moderate incomplete paralysis as contemplated by Diagnostic Code 8516. Therefore, the claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent was denied.
The deciding factor: The clinical findings demonstrated only mild hypothenar eminence atrophy and mild clawing of the fourth digit, which are consistent with a moderate degree of incomplete paralysis as per Diagnostic Code 8516.
- Claimed conditions
- Avulsion fracture of the distal tip of the right fifth finger, Fracture of the mid and proximal shaft of the right fourth metacarpal, Nerve damage to the dorsal cutaneous branch of the right ulnar nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- July 29, 2004
- Citation
- 0420836
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 0420836.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
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- Granted
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