The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right middle finger disability does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as it is not tender or restricts movement. The lower back and hip disabilities are currently rated appropriately.
The deciding factor: The most recent VA examination did not address the new criteria for spine disabilities, which may affect the current rating assigned.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar segment of the spine, Residuals of an injury to the right middle finger with a skin graft, Right hip replacement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 17, 2006
- Citation
- 0607796
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,514 · Granted: 19% (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 0607796.
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- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability was granted with an effective date of July 12, 2021. However, the claims for post-operative residuals of right knee meniscectomy and internal derangement of left knee without residuals are being remanded due to CUE motions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right hip replacement, a right foot disability (including right toe gout and arthritis), left wrist carpal tunnel, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is presumed exposed to burn pits during his Southwest Asia service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found new and relevant evidence for several of the Veteran's claims, including GERD, peripheral neuropathy, right hip replacement, right knee status post total knee replacement, and thoracic aortic aneurysm. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient evidence or conflicting theories.
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