The Veteran's right hand disability was rated at 10 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of ankylosis or thumb limitation of motion with more than two inches between the thumb and fingers.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners consistently reported normal range of motion in excess of even a compensable rating for the Veteran's right hand disability, thus no basis for higher ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5228 or 5229 was found.
- Claimed conditions
- Right hand disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- June 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19148686
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, a bilateral foot disability (other than bilateral plantar fasciitis), to include gout, right hand and left hand disabilities, as well as a thyroid disorder, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea. The Board also granted a TDIU from September 25, 2020.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disability, alcohol abuse, a liver disability, and hand and eye disabilities, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or secondary to any service-connected condition.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals, including those for increased ratings and service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right hand disabilities due to a failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations.
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