The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right long finger disability, finding that there is no credible evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury and concluding that the Veteran's reports of continuity of symptoms since service are not credible.
The deciding factor: The medical opinion found no nexus between the in-service injury and the current diagnosis of right long finger strain, supported by internal inconsistencies in the Veteran's statements regarding which finger is experiencing pain and the fact that his STRs indicate the pain resolved three weeks after the injury.
- Claimed conditions
- Right long finger disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 7, 2022
- Citation
- 22012916
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 22012916.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's right long finger disability is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5229.,The Veteran's right ring finger disability is currently rated at noncompensable (zero percent), which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5230.,The scars on the neck and upper back area are not productive of visible or palpable tissue loss, gross distortion, or asymmetry. Therefore, they do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7800.
- Partly granted
The Board granted initial ratings for the Veteran's right thumb, index finger, and long finger disabilities, as well as a separate rating for his left thumb disability. The claims for increased ratings for the right ring and little fingers, and left ring and little fingers were denied.
- Dismissed
The appeal concerning the propriety of the rating reductions for the Veteran's right distal fibula disability and tinea pedis was dismissed, while SMC based on the need for aid and attendance was granted prior to February 20, 2024.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's right long finger disability. The claim for service connection of a bilateral knee disability is remanded due to inadequate examination.
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