The Veteran's service connection for residuals of a right thumb injury and initial rating for left ear scar are both granted. The Veteran is assigned a 10% disability rating for his left ear scar.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports the finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are due to events incurred during active military service, warranting direct service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of right thumb injury, Left ear scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 4, 2009
- Citation
- 0916512
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 0916512.
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 an acquired psychiatric disorder, alcohol and stimulant disorder, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and left ear scar as the evidence did not support these claims.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left ear scar, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since September 8, 2016. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from that date.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Denied
The Board has denied the veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during a private hospitalization and outpatient treatment, finding that no emergency existed at the time of the treatment.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.