The Veteran's initial disability rating for a left thumb and ring finger disability is granted at 10 percent. For the period prior to November 18, 2011, his right great toe disability is also granted an initial compensable rating of 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran had painful motion in both the left thumb and ring finger as well as the right great toe, which warranted a minimum compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Thumb, Ring Finger
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- October 19, 2021
- Citation
- 21064248
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 21064248.
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 has granted earlier effective dates of January 21, 2015 for the Veteran's claims related to his right thumb, left thumb, right index finger, left index finger, right long finger, and left long finger. The Board also granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's increased rating claims for left index finger and thumb disabilities due to insufficient discussion in the August 2022 VA examination report regarding functional amputation, and inadequate reasoning on whether the impairment is equivalent to ankylosis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical inquiry into her disability of the left index finger and thumb, including whether there is functional ankylosis or amputation equivalent.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left thumb, index finger, long finger, ring finger, and little finger disabilities have been denied as the current ratings of 20 percent for each condition are considered to be the maximum allowable under VA regulations.
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