The Veteran's right hand and finger disability, which includes fractures of the index, middle, and ring fingers with DJD and nerve damage, has been restored to a 20 percent rating. The reduction in rating was improper due to insufficient evidence showing improvement under ordinary conditions of life.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not address possible relationships between surgeries for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and triggering, which were related to the service-connected right hand/fingers disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Fractures of index, middle and ring fingers, right hand, Degenerative joint disease (DJD), Nerve damage
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19104288
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease rendered him so helpless as to require the aid and attendance of another individual, warranting an award of special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for PTSD, a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, nerve damage, and sleep disturbance. The Board also denied an increased rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for Raynaud's syndrome, a cervical spine / neck disability, nerve damage, and a right shoulder disability. The Board also denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for various foot and hip disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability prior to January 19, 2018, is denied. The case is remanded due to the need for additional development and adjudication.
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