The Veteran's right hand disability, characterized by pain and limited motion, warrants a 10% evaluation under the applicable rating criteria. The current noncompensable rating is found to be inadequate as it does not reflect the severity of his symptoms.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right hand disability results in minimal functional impairment with essentially full range of motion and no ankylosis or gap between digits, which do not warrant a higher evaluation under any applicable diagnostic codes. The pain is considered part of the normal symptomatology for this condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Right hand injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- July 13, 2016
- Citation
- 1627935
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 1627935.
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 claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded due to errors in the duty to assist process prior to November 15, 2014.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain missing service treatment records, as well as private medical records. A VA examination will be conducted to determine if the appellant's right hand and little finger injuries are related to his active duty training.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as his September 2017 VA Form 9 was not timely filed, making the June 2015 rating decision final.
- Granted
The Veteran's right hand disability, including all associated conditions, is rated at the highest possible level of 50 percent for the entire initial rating period on appeal.
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