The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for her right thumb disability was granted, and she is currently receiving a 20% rating effective August 27, 2011. The Board found that the evidence supported an increased rating based on arthritis of the right thumb.
The deciding factor: The Veteran demonstrated functional limitation due to pain in her right thumb, which more closely resembled limitation of motion manifested by a gap greater than two inches between the thumb and fingers.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Thumb Sprain, Degenerative Joint Disease (Arthritis) of Right Thumb
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 26, 2013
- Citation
- 1323880
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 1323880.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected stroke residuals. He is also granted financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment due to permanent loss of use of the left hand.
- Denied
The Veteran's right thumb disability is rated at 10 percent from October 31, 2014 to February 18, 2016. A higher rating of more than 10 percent for the right thumb disability is denied. Service connection for neck strain and back strain is also denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the extent of any muscle injury or disability associated with the Veteran's service-connected right-hand disorders, including his right thumb sprain and right hand metacarpal fracture.
- Granted
The Board has granted restoration of a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's right thumb sprain as of March 1, 2017.
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