The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ring finger disability meets the criteria for a higher 10 percent initial rating due to arthritis with associated pain and painful motion.
The deciding factor: The VA compensation examination confirmed the presence of degenerative changes in the PIP joint of the left fourth finger, resulting in a flexion deformity of 40 degrees. The Veteran's complaints of pain during use were corroborated by his testimony, leading to an assignment of at least a 10 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Ring Finger Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- September 10, 2010
- Citation
- 1034029
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 1034029.
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 has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed disabilities and therefore, service connection for right thumb, left thumb, right index finger, left index finger, right middle finger, left middle finger, right ring finger, left ring finger, right small finger, or left small finger disabilities is denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for adjustment disorder with anxiety and denied higher ratings for the left and right knee disabilities, as well as service connection for various other conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the reduction from a 20 percent rating to a noncompensable rating for limitation of motion of the left thumb was improper. The Veteran's appeal is now remanded for further evaluation and consideration.
- Granted
The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee disability. The Veteran's current right knee disability is found not to be related to his active military service, as there is no evidence of continuous or recurrent symptoms during service or within one year after separation from service. Service connection for secondary disabilities (back, left ring finger, and right shoulder) was also denied due to lack of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active service.
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