The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 60% rating for his service-connected residuals of a tendon graft of the fifth finger of the right hand has been granted, with the effective date set at July 13, 1998. The effective date for SMC based on loss of use of the right hand is also set at July 13, 1998.
The deciding factor: The increase in disability was factually ascertainable as of July 13, 1998, when the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a tendon graft of the fifth finger of the right hand resulted in severe incomplete paralysis and 'griffin claw' deformity.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of a tendon graft of the fifth finger of the right hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- November 18, 2015
- Citation
- 1548717
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 1548717.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than July 31, 2002 for a 60 percent rating for residuals of a tendon graft of the fifth finger of the right hand was denied as there is no evidence showing that his disability warranted such a rating prior to July 31, 2002.
- 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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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