The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected postoperative separation of web fingers at the right middle finger and right ring finger warrants a 10 percent disability rating, effective November 2003. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to service.
The deciding factor: The veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for an increased rating under any applicable diagnostic codes due to the nature of his postoperative separation of web fingers at the right middle finger and right ring finger. The examiner found that the veteran has ulnar neuropathy of the right elbow, unrelated to the prior finger surgery and residuals.
- Claimed conditions
- Postoperative separation of web fingers at the right middle finger and right ring finger, Bilateral hearing loss, Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 30, 2008
- Citation
- 0817775
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 0817775.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
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