The Board denied service connection for a LEFT middle finger disorder, granted higher initial ratings for an unspecified depressive disorder and neuropathy / nerve impairment of the radial and median nerves of the RIGHT hand, and granted an earlier effective date for service connection for painful residuals of a laceration / scar(s) to the RIGHT hand. The appeal was also remanded for further development on issues related to TDIU and SMC.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the lack of evidence supporting a current disability in the LEFT middle finger, the severity of the depressive disorder and neuropathy, and the timeliness of the claim for an earlier effective date.
- Claimed conditions
- LEFT middle finger disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, neuropathy / nerve impairment of the radial and median nerves of the RIGHT hand, other residuals of a laceration / scar(s) to the RIGHT hand, painful residuals of a laceration / scar(s) to the RIGHT hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 9, 2024
- Citation
- 24001464
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.
- Granted
The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder, finding that her symptoms more closely approximated those required for such a rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder, mood disorder, and unspecified depressive disorder due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as unspecified depressive disorder and major depressive disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of February 7, 2020, for the award of a 70 percent rating for unspecified depressive disorder and TDIU, but denied earlier effective dates for other conditions.
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