The Veteran's service-connected residuals of the right long (middle) finger and left inguinal hernia are both rated at 10 percent, effective from September 8, 2016.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed no ankylosis for the right long finger condition and recurrence of the left inguinal hernia in May 2013. The Veteran's symptoms were found to be equivalent to favorable ankylosis for the right long finger, and recurrent postoperative hernias warrant a 10 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals, injury, right long (middle) finger, Left inguinal herniorrhaphy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 11, 2023
- Citation
- 23001945
Veterans Law Judge
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 23001945.
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
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The Veteran's multiple service-connected conditions, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and hypertension, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Granted
The Veteran is unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, which include degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, tinnitus, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, left sciatic radiculopathy, reactive airway disease, a right knee baker's cyst, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, left inguinal herniorrhaphy, and chronic maxillary sinusitis. The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for eligibility to individual unemployability.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected post-operative residuals of a left inguinal herniorrhaphy do not result in unemployability.
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