The veteran's nasal deformity is service-connected, but his right thumb and left fifth finger disabilities are not rated higher than the current 10%.
The deciding factor: Service connection for nasal deformity was established based on in-service injury. The right thumb and left fifth finger disabilities were found to be due to pre-existing conditions or other causes.
- Claimed conditions
- Left fifth finger fracture, Nasal deformity, Right thumb fracture with degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 6, 2005
- Citation
- 0500388
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 541 · Granted: 32% (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 0500388.
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: Dismissed
The appeal for an earlier effective date of the 30 percent evaluation for the Veteran's nasal deformity is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his hearing request and the appeal remains open in the Direct Review Docket.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied an initial compensable rating for residuals of a left fifth finger fracture and degenerative arthritis of the left hand, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion or arthritis affecting multiple joints.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s allergic rhinitis and sinusitis did not meet criteria for a higher rating, while his residuals of left fifth finger fracture and right hand injury were also denied. Both issues are now remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's cervical strain disability is rated at 30% under the applicable schedular criteria, and an extraschedular rating is not warranted.,VA medical records indicate that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.
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.