The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a fracture of the right index finger and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his umbilical hernia repair scar. The veteran does not have diagnosed residuals of a fracture of the right index finger, and the VA examiner found no evidence of such condition during or after service. For the umbilical hernia repair scar, the Board noted that it is currently rated as 10 percent disabling but did not find sufficient evidence to warrant an increased rating.
The deciding factor: The veteran's STRs do not show any treatment for a fracture of the right index finger and there was no current diagnosis related to such condition. The VA examiner found no residual fracture of the right index finger during or after service. For the umbilical hernia repair scar, while it is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, the Board did not find sufficient evidence to warrant an increased rating.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a fracture of the right index finger, umbilical hernia repair scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 18, 2008
- Citation
- 0832064
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 0832064.
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: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including back condition, lower extremity radiculopathy, and hernia residuals.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to incomplete VA examinations, lack of flare-up information, and other procedural issues. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions and ensure all necessary records are obtained.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was dismissed as moot because he has been in receipt of a total (100 percent) disability rating since February 26, 2016.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a right index finger fracture, finding that his hearing acuity did not warrant any compensable rating. The claim for a single 10 percent rating based on multiple service-connected disabilities was also denied.
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