The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right hand injury, finding that the evidence did not show ankylosis in both the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints in extension or in extreme flexion.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed limited range of motion but no ankylosis in either joint, thus preventing a higher rating based on service connection criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Hand Injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 18, 2006
- Citation
- 0639329
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,613 · Granted: 30% (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 0639329.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran is seeking SMC at the rate payable under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o) due to multiple service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and various orthopedic conditions. The Board has remanded for further action as additional medical evidence is needed to determine if regular aid and attendance or higher-level care is required.
- Denied
The Veteran's application for Legacy S-DVI was denied because it was not filed within the two-year period after he received a compensable disability rating, and there is no evidence of mental incompetence. The Veteran had hypertension rated as at least 10 percent disabling since August 2022.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial compensable rating for right hand injury is denied, and his claim for TDIU prior to December 13, 2017, is also denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, even one that involves sedentary type work.
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