The Veteran's claims for an effective date of May 15, 2019, for a 10 percent rating each for his service-connected left thumb (extensor pollicis longus) laceration residuals and painful left thumb scar are granted.
The deciding factor: Objective evidence of the Veteran’s painful scar and weakness and painful motion was factually ascertainable from May 2019 VA examinations, within a year prior to his claim for increase in disability.
- Claimed conditions
- left thumb (extensor pollicis longus) laceration residuals, painful left thumb scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 29, 2020
- Citation
- A20009576
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 A20009576.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various thumb conditions and scars, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's painful left thumb scar and remanded the claim for an increased rating for status post RCL repair left thumb MCP joint due to insufficient examination evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.