The Veteran's right ring finger disability is currently evaluated at the highest schedular rating, but an increased rating is denied.,Service connection for a lower back disability is granted based on continuity of symptomatology within one year of service separation. Service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence showing a compensable degree of disability for the right ring finger condition, and the highest schedular rating has already been assigned.,The Veteran's lower back disability manifested within one year of service separation, meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection based on continuity of symptomatology. However, there is no competent medical evidence linking his current hypertension to service.,Hypertension requires specialized training and cannot be linked to service by lay opinion alone.
- Claimed conditions
- right fourth metacarpal (ring finger), lower back, hypertension
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19180820
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,242 · Granted: 24% (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 19180820.
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