The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the right thumb is granted with an initial rating of 20 percent. The Veteran's scars are rated as 20 percent disabling due to pain and tenderness. An effective date of September 17, 2016 is assigned for a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder. Service connection is granted for arthritis of the right thumb, but not for hypertension, GERD, hoarseness, or allergic rhinitis.
The deciding factor: The Veteran submitted new and material evidence relating to his service-connected arthritis of the right thumb, which was previously denied in a January 1998 rating decision. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's symptoms were related to his in-service injury and established continuity of symptomatology since service. The scars are rated based on their painful nature.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis of the right thumb, Scars of the left ankle, left knee, and right wrist, Major depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20006091
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted initial ratings of 40 percent for lumbar spine disorder, 70 percent for major depressive disorder, and 40 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy. TDIU and SMC based on housebound status were also granted.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, currently diagnosed as other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and major depressive disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) but denied service connection for PTSD and a higher rating for the unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder/major depressive disorder/insomnia.
- Denied
The Board denied an effective date earlier than April 9, 2024, for the assignment of a 70 percent evaluation for insomnia disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder.
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