The Board has granted a 10% disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected left thumb disability, effective August 31, 2010. The separate compensable rating for the service-connected left hand scar is denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran had decreased strength and stiffness in his left thumb, which more nearly approximates a gap of 1 to 2 inches between the thumb pad and the fingers with the thumb attempting to oppose the fingers, warranting a 10% rating under Diagnostic Code 5228.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Thumb Disability, Left Hand Scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- March 23, 2016
- Citation
- 1611706
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 1611706.
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 Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed disabilities and therefore, service connection for right thumb, left thumb, right index finger, left index finger, right middle finger, left middle finger, right ring finger, left ring finger, right small finger, or left small finger disabilities is denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for several disabilities, including left thumb, left wrist, right hip, back, and sciatic nerve conditions, but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for TBI, RLE radicular pain, sinusitis, and an increased rating for PTSD. The claims for service connection for DM II, ED, headaches, left thumb disability and scar, right thumb, increased ratings for rhinitis, IBS with GERD, and OSA with bronchitis were remanded.
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