The Board finds that the Veteran's traumatic arthritis of the left hand does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5228. The disability more nearly approximates the 10 percent rating criteria for his left thumb under this diagnostic code, and he does not meet a higher rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The objective medical evidence did not reflect any findings of a gap greater than 2 inches between the thumb pad and the fingers with the thumb attempting to oppose the fingers. The Veteran's left thumb ranges of motion were all found to be normal in the May 2007 VA examination, resulting in a zero (0) centimeters gap.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic arthritis of the left thumb
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- August 27, 2009
- Citation
- 0932252
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 0932252.
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 Veteran's appeals for effective dates prior to March 12, 2015 for service connection of traumatic arthritis of the left thumb, residuals of carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity, and deviated nasal septum have been denied.,The RO assigned an effective date of March 12, 2015, for each grant of service connection. The Veteran did not file any claims prior to this date that would support earlier effective dates.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the effective dates for service connection of traumatic arthritis of the left thumb and residuals of a right great toe fracture cannot be earlier than January 28, 2002 due to lack of an initial claim prior to this date.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a left thumb injury with traumatic arthritis do not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond the current 10 percent assigned.
- 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.
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