The Veteran's service-connected right fifth finger disability, which is a fracture that has resulted in pain and decreased strength but no ankylosis or functional impairment requiring amputation with prosthesis, does not warrant a compensable evaluation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's disability does not meet the criteria for any higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes due to lack of evidence of ankylosis, arthritis, or other conditions that would allow for a higher evaluation. The current noncompensable evaluation adequately reflects the functional impairment and symptoms described by the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Fifth Finger Fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2013
- Citation
- 1336289
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 1336289.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right fifth finger fracture is rated as noncompensable prior to January 16, 2020, and since February 28, 2022. From January 16, 2020, to February 28, 2022, a 10 percent rating for the right fifth finger fracture is granted. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee and left knee strain are both remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10 percent disability rating for his right fifth finger fracture, effective June 14, 2012. The reduction was improper as there was no actual improvement in the Veteran’s ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.
- 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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