The Board has granted benefits for nonservice-connected right upper extremity impairment based on special consideration given to paired extremities under 38 C.F.R. § 3.383 (a). The claim of entitlement to a higher evaluation of SMC is denied, and the claim of entitlement to a disability rating greater than 100 percent for bilateral lower extremity loss of use is dismissed.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right upper extremity impairment was found to be equivalent to 'loss of use' as defined in the regulations at 38 C.F.R. § 4.63, and he is already receiving the highest level of SMC possible under VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- right upper extremity impairment, left hand disability
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- July 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20045081
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 20045081.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand disabilities due to inadequate examination and potential toxic exposure during service.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for various orthopedic disabilities, including wrist, hand, finger, knee, and lumbar spine conditions, based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disabilities, tobacco use disorder, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, left hand disability, right hand disability, and bilateral hearing loss have all been denied.,Service connection cannot be established as the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for any of the claimed conditions and thus, service connection is denied.
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