The Veteran's service-connected left little finger injury results in limited motion and pain, but does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating as his symptoms do not warrant an evaluation higher than 0% under any applicable diagnostic code.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's disability is rated based on limitation of motion of the hand and fingers, with no evidence of ankylosis or amputation. The functional impairment does not meet criteria for a higher rating due to pain or additional loss of function.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Little Finger Injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 18, 2012
- Citation
- 1236103
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1236103.
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 has determined that the Veteran's left little finger injury does not warrant a compensable rating as it does not meet the criteria for ankylosis or amputation.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that a compensable rating of 10 percent is warranted for the veteran's service-connected left little finger injury, considering the benefit of doubt in favor of the veteran.
- Whole decision: Denied
The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected left little finger injury was denied because he failed to report for two scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.
- Whole decision: 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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