The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating of 20 percent for his service-connected left index finger disability is denied as the evidence does not support an increase beyond this level.
The deciding factor: The VA examination findings did not demonstrate any additional functional impairment warranting a higher rating, and the Veteran was already receiving the highest possible schedular rating for his condition.
- Claimed conditions
- left index finger disability, left minor index finger ankylosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 13, 2022
- Citation
- 22001836
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,156 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 22001836.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal of a 10% rating for left index finger disability since July 12, 2016 is dismissed because the initial decision was not an 'initial decision' under the AMA and proper procedures were not followed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for chronic dry eye, chronic fatigue syndrome, constipation, IBS, left little finger disability, left index finger disability, left thumb disability, left ring finger disability, left long finger disability, right ring finger disability, right index finger disability, right long finger disability, and right thumb disability due to an error in the initial decision. The Veteran was not provided with notice of her right to a hearing on these issues.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left eye and left index finger disabilities due to incomplete development of records, including VA and private treatment records. The Veteran's left eye disability may be related to his active service exposure through all applicable military deployments, as well as his obesity which could have contributed to its onset or progression.
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