The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right ring finger disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on limited motion or painful motion of the ring finger.,Service connection for the Veteran's claimed right arm disability, which he contends is secondary to his service-connected right ring finger fracture with degenerative arthritis, was also denied by the Board.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not demonstrate that the Veteran’s right arm disability had its onset during service or was otherwise etiologically related to service. The VA examiner opined that the right arm pain was not related to his service-connected ring finger fracture.,There is no medical opinion linking the Veteran's right arm condition, including degenerative arthritis of the shoulder and epicondylitis of the elbow, to his service-connected right ring finger disability.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of right ring finger fracture with degenerative arthritis, right arm disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19177557
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,429 · Granted: 29% (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 19177557.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis is granted. The claims for higher ratings for bilateral pes cavus, left ankle impingement, and left knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to the appellant's withdrawal of these claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy is denied as the evidence does not support a finding of more than moderate incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis and low back pain are remanded due to inadequate consideration of all symptomology in prior VA examinations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right arm disability is remanded as the medical opinion did not address whether any diagnosed conditions are related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the appeal for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral upper extremity disabilities.
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