The Veteran's appeal of the ratings assigned for his service-connected right ring and right little finger disabilities comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board). The Veteran was denied separate compensable ratings for the residuals of a right ring finger fracture and a right little finger fracture. However, he is granted a 10 percent rating for arthritis of both the right ring finger and right little finger as a group of minor joints effective November 14, 2012.,The Board also remanded the Veteran's appeal of the maxilla fracture disability to obtain an opinion addressing respiratory and dental issues as residuals of the maxilla fracture.
The deciding factor: The decision contains mixed results with some claims being denied and others granted. The denial is for separate compensable ratings for the right ring finger and little finger fractures, while a 10 percent rating was granted for arthritis of both fingers.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Ring Finger Fracture, Right Little Finger Fracture, Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20079609
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 20079609.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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 decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in previous examinations, requiring additional information on right shoulder ROM measurements without medication effects.
- Granted
The Veteran's disability ratings for low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been reduced from 40% and 10%, respectively, to 20% and 0%. The reduction was based on improvements shown in recent VA examinations.
- Denied
The Veteran's right knee strain with arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum allowable rating under Diagnostic Code 5010 prior to February 7, 2021. The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia and irritable bowel syndrome is not rated higher than 30 percent.
- Granted
The Veteran's right hip disability is granted a 10% rating from January 22, 2018 to April 7, 2022. The Veteran's painful limitation of motion and hip replacement with residuals are denied ratings in excess of 10%. The Veteran's scarring on his hands is granted separate 10% ratings since August 18, 2022.
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