The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a left little finger injury is denied as the current evaluation adequately compensates his disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms, including pain and decreased dexterity, are already addressed by the existing 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5230 for limitation of motion of the ring or little finger. The additional conditions such as arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome do not warrant a higher evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Left little finger injury with subluxation of PIP joint, Arthritis of left hand, Carpal tunnel syndrome of left little finger
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 14, 2013
- Citation
- 1315800
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 1315800.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arthritis of the left hand, right hand, left knee, and right knee as secondary to service-connected hepatitis C (HCV) due to procedural errors in obtaining medical opinions addressing whether HCV caused or aggravated these conditions.
- Granted
The Board has granted a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's degenerative joint disease, right wrist and thumb (major), bringing it to a 20 percent rating.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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