The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for impairment of extension 3rd left finger with nonunion of metacarpal secondary to accidental gunshot wound of the left hand is denied. The current 50 percent evaluation adequately contemplates the severity and frequency of the disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms are adequately contemplated by the schedular rating criteria, which includes a maximum 50 percent evaluation for complete paralysis characterized by 'griffin claw' deformity, due to flexor contraction of ring and little fingers, atrophy very marked in dorsal inter-space and thenar and hypothenar eminences; loss of extension of ring and little fingers cannot spread the fingers (or reverse), cannot adduct the thumb; flexion of wrist weakened.
- Claimed conditions
- Impairment of extension 3rd left finger with nonunion of metacarpal
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- April 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19124482
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
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