The Board granted service connection for a right hand disability manifested by pain and functional impairment, finding it proximately due to the Veteran's in-service right little finger fracture. The rating for nephrolithiasis was denied as there were no criteria met for a higher rating based on renal dysfunction or recurrent stone formation requiring diet and drug therapy.
The deciding factor: The May 2017 VA examiner opined that the right hand pain and functional impairment is related to the in-service right little finger fracture, meeting the secondary service connection requirement.
- Claimed conditions
- Right little finger fracture, Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), Right hand disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20065846
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 service connection for diabetes mellitus, a bilateral foot disability (other than bilateral plantar fasciitis), to include gout, right hand and left hand disabilities, as well as a thyroid disorder, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea. The Board also granted a TDIU from September 25, 2020.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disability, alcohol abuse, a liver disability, and hand and eye disabilities, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or secondary to any service-connected condition.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals, including those for increased ratings and service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right hand disabilities due to a failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations.
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.