The Veteran's service-connected comminuted fracture of the left third finger and tinnitus have been rated as 10 percent disabling, but there is no legal basis for an increased rating. The maximum schedular ratings are already assigned.
The deciding factor: The current evaluations under Diagnostic Codes 5226 (ankylosis) and 6260 (tinnitus) do not allow for a higher evaluation as the conditions have been rated based on their severity, with no evidence of ankylosis or other factors warranting a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Comminuted fracture of the distal phalanx of the left third finger, Bilateral tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 2, 2014
- Citation
- 1419606
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 1419606.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and other disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 29, 2020. Effective from that date, the Veteran is granted TDIU and SMC housebound.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that his in-service exposure to hazardous noise caused his current condition.
- Granted
The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 26, 2017 for the award of TDIU due to service-connected psychiatric disability and an earlier effective date of November 9, 2018 for the award of SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral tinnitus is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
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