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
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,762 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance/housebound is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The case will be returned to the RO for further examination and consideration.
- 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 Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left hand, left knee, and right knee conditions due to inadequate VA opinions and failure to comply with prior remand directives. The case is now pending for further review.
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