The Veteran's effective function in his right hand is so diminished due to service-connected disabilities that it is equivalent to the loss of use of one hand, which would be equally well served by an amputation stump with a suitable prosthetic appliance.
The deciding factor: The combined effect of the Veteran's service-connected nerve damage, tendon damage, blood vessel damage, and status post intra-articular fracture resulted in effective function being no better than if his right hand was amputated and replaced with a suitable prosthesis.
- Claimed conditions
- Nerve damage, Tendon damage, Blood vessel damage, Status post intra-articular fracture of the proximal phalanx of the right ring and little fingers with degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- March 9, 2016
- Citation
- 1609590
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 1609590.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's nerve damage and painful scar are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the cause of these conditions, specifically whether they resulted from improper care during his carpal tunnel release surgery.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for PTSD, a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, nerve damage, and sleep disturbance. The Board also denied an increased rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include adjustment disorder, anxiety, depression, and major depressive disorder (MDD), as the Veteran's psychiatric impairment began during active service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for Raynaud's syndrome, a cervical spine / neck disability, nerve damage, and a right shoulder disability. The Board also denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for various foot and hip disabilities.
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