The Veteran's service-connected left ring finger disability is currently rated as noncompensable due to the lack of ankylosis or amputation, and his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left ring finger disability does not meet the criteria for any compensable evaluation under VA's rating schedule, as it does not involve ankylosis or amputation, and its functional limitations are adequately addressed by the current noncompensable rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Ring Finger Injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2014
- Citation
- 1401863
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 1401863.
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 Veteran's service-connected left ring finger injury is currently rated as noncompensable due to the presence of ankylosis, which precludes a compensable rating.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left ring finger injury, which is the maximum schedular disability rating possible.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's left ring finger injury resulted in ankylosis of the PIP joint, preventing full flexion. The VA determined that a 10 percent disability evaluation was warranted and effective as February 4, 2009.
- 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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