The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his right ring finger condition is denied as the current noncompensable rating adequately reflects the functional limitations and pain associated with this disability. The claims for increased ratings are remanded due to new evidence.
The deciding factor: The current noncompensable rating under DC 5230 adequately accounts for the Veteran's symptoms, including painful motion and limited extension of the right ring finger.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ring finger deformity, Right wrist scars, Left shoulder disability, Right wrist disability, Residuals of left ankle fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19168454
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 19168454.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's right ring finger injury, finding that the condition did not meet the criteria for ankylosis or limitation of motion under applicable VA rating criteria.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for right and left shoulder disabilities, as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.
- Granted
The Board granted a 10 percent disability rating for osteoarthritis of the right hand and service connection for a left shoulder disability.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a heart disability, to include atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and coronary artery disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The claim for cervical degenerative arthritis was denied.
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