The Veteran's right hand disability, specifically the index finger laceration with scar, did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations. The noncompensable rating was assigned based on limitation of motion and the absence of functional impairment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s right index finger had less than 1 inch gap between fingertip and proximal transverse crease with no limitation of extension, which did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 5229. The scar was also noncompensably disabling as it did not show limitation of motion or function.
- Claimed conditions
- Right index finger disability, Right index finger scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20005684
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,569 · Granted: 26% (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 20005684.
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's right index finger disability is granted as service-connected. The left shoulder disability issue requires further examination and review.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for all the claimed conditions as there was no evidence of a current disability in accordance with VA standards.
- Partly granted
The Board granted initial ratings for the Veteran's right thumb, index finger, and long finger disabilities, as well as a separate rating for his left thumb disability. The claims for increased ratings for the right ring and little fingers, and left ring and little fingers were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including residuals of a laceration of the radial digital nerve, C-section scar, right index finger scar residuals, and bilateral lower extremity varicose veins.
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