The Veteran's left-hand arthritis is a separate and distinct disability from his service-connected left finger amputations, warranting a separate compensable rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s left-hand degenerative arthritis shows physical deformity and loss of function due to the loss of fingers as well as pain and loss of hand function due to arthritis, which are two distinct disabilities with varying symptomology.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative arthritis of the left hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 31, 2019
- Citation
- A19002456
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left hand, finding the evidence persuasively against a nexus to service. The Board remanded claims for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and right knee meniscal tear and chondromalacia due to inadequate VA medical opinions that failed to address aggravation theories and direct service connection.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for rectal scarring, rash, and discomfort due to an in-service sexual assault. The claims for other conditions were remanded for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for an examination to determine the severity of his left thumb disability, including whether there are periods of flare-ups.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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