The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected gunshot wound to the left forearm, which approximates loss of use of the minor hand. The veteran is also entitled to special monthly compensation based on his need for regular aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The veteran demonstrated severe impairment in the left hand due to flexion contracture of the thumb and middle fingers, ankylosis/swan-neck deformity of the left middle, ring, and little fingers, and significant muscle atrophy. These findings are consistent with loss of use of the minor hand.
- Claimed conditions
- gunshot wound to the left forearm
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- May 20, 2005
- Citation
- 0513841
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 0513841.
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 Board denied the claim of service connection for cause of death, finding that the Veteran's death was due to natural causes and not related to his service-connected conditions.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially and materially to cause his death, which was due to congestive heart failure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including EMG testing and MRI of the cervical spine. The veteran's scars are also scheduled for a VA scar examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected gunshot wound to the left forearm, including consideration of associated scarring and neurological involvement.
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