The Board denied a rating in excess of the current evaluation of 10 percent for the service-connected partial amputation of the distal phalanx of the right middle finger, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on Diagnostic Code 5154.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not establish ankylosis or limitation of motion of other digits of the left hand, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5216-5228 and 5230. Additionally, there was no gap between the thumb pad and fingers, nor extension limited by more than 30 degrees.
- Claimed conditions
- partial amputation of the distal phalanx of the right middle finger with arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20007567
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,350 · 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 20007567.
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