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
- Not verified here — check the original 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 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 0607796.
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: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment after his last date of employment on March 30, 2018. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from March 31, 2018.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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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