The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected chronic hand sprain with index and long finger pain, chronic left hand sprain with thumb pain, and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain have been denied. The current ratings are considered appropriate based on the evidence provided.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation under any applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic left hand sprain with index finger and long finger pain, Chronic left hand sprain, thumb pain, Right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- October 24, 2024
- Citation
- A24068732
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,963 · Granted: 32% (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 A24068732.
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 Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates as they were received more than one year after her intent to file a claim, and no good cause extension was requested.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA examination provided by the RO was inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's current right ankle disability is related to her active military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right ankle disability has been granted service connection. The Veteran's right hip trochanteric pain syndrome is remanded for further review.
- Denied
The Veteran's right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.
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