The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for right hand mallet distal phalanx 5th finger status post closed fracture, left and right shin splints, and primary insomnia has been denied. The RO granted service connection for these conditions but did not provide a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support additional staged ratings for any time period on appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- Right hand mallet distal phalanx 5th finger, Left shin splints, Right shin splints, Primary insomnia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 19, 2018
- Citation
- 18119813
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18119813.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received with respect to all the service connection claims on appeal. The claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and medical opinions to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and remanded claims for multiple other disabilities, including left and right ankle, CTS, IBS, knee, shoulder, sleep apnea, and back conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted separate 20 percent ratings for left and right knee meniscal tears, as well as earlier effective dates of April 9, 2014, for the Veteran's left and right shin splints.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, left and right shin splints, back, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities as the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities related to service.
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