The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's left ring finger amputation, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on metacarpal resection. The claim to reopen his right knee disability was also denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the left ring finger amputation involved only the proximal phalanx and not more than half of the bone, thus not meeting the criteria for an increased rating under applicable codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Ring Finger Amputation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 15, 2006
- Citation
- 0639060
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,467 · Granted: 18% (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 0639060.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the December 1954 rating decision that granted a disability evaluation of 10 percent for a left ring finger amputation. The Veteran's condition was evaluated based on the applicable criteria at that time.
- Denied
The veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of a right shoulder disability claim were denied. The back disability remains rated at 20 percent, the left ring finger amputation continues to be non-compensably disabling, and service connection for the right shoulder disability is granted but not reopened.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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