The veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of a laceration of the left ring finger was granted, with a 10 percent rating effective from April 2, 2003. A separate issue concerning weakness in adjacent fingers resulted in a compensable rating. The claim for an initial rating based on multiple noncompensable disabilities is moot due to the already established higher rating.
The deciding factor: The veteran's residuals of a laceration of the left ring finger met criteria for a 10 percent disability rating, effective from April 2, 2003. The claim for an initial compensable rating for weakness in adjacent fingers was granted with a 10 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- laceration of the left ring finger
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 21, 2006
- Citation
- 0608155
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,669 · Granted: 23% (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 0608155.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected laceration of the left ring finger was granted, but he is still denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his scar. The Board found that there were no ankylosis or doctor-prescribed bed rest issues and concluded that the preponderance of evidence supported a 10 percent rating.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied a compensable rating for the service-connected residuals of a laceration of the left ring finger, finding that there was no evidence of ankylosis or amputation and that the current noncompensable rating accurately reflects the severity of the condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for cervical and lumbar spine conditions were denied. The initial compensable rating claim for residuals of a laceration of the left ring finger was also denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board finds that the appellant has a scar on his left ring finger as a result of an in-service laceration, and thus service connection is granted.
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