The Board has determined that the veteran's left hand disorder, characterized as a scar of the left thumb, was incurred in service. The neck and right shoulder disorders were not found to have their origins during service or for many years thereafter. The back disorder was also not found to be related to service. However, the reduction of the 30 percent rating assigned for the veteran's right hand disorder to a 10 percent rating was upheld as proper.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the evidence supported the reduction of the rating due to the veteran's failure to meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on additional symptomatology or functional impairment, and the RO followed proper procedures in reducing the rating.
- Claimed conditions
- left hand disorder (scar of the left thumb), neck disorder, back disorder, right shoulder disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 15, 2004
- Citation
- 0433205
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 0433205.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, high blood pressure, and type II diabetes mellitus due to errors in development of the claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for headaches, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, back disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a failure to provide notice regarding the Veteran's right to a hearing.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
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