The Board finds that the Veteran's right index finger disability is incurred in service, while his left index finger disability did not result from a chronic condition during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for locking joints of the fingers and left index finger is granted.
The deciding factor: The April 2007 VA examination established a current diagnosis of chronic PIP contracture secondary to an old fracture of the right index finger, which can be related to service due to lack of recall regarding the time frame. The Veteran's left index finger disability did not result in a chronic condition during service.
- Claimed conditions
- locking joints of the fingers, left index finger
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- November 19, 2009
- Citation
- 0944190
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 0944190.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran requested to withdraw her appeal regarding the earlier effective date for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis affecting various fingers and wrists. The Board dismissed the appeals as per the Veteran's request.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on his service-connected disabilities, which include an unspecified depressive disorder, skin conditions, and a left index finger condition. The effective date will be determined by the AOJ.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left knee, low back, and left index finger disabilities were denied. The RO assigned noncompensable initial ratings for these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.
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