The Veteran's right thumb disability is currently rated at 10 percent and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.,The Veteran's right index finger disability is currently rated at 10 percent and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.,The Veteran's right long finger disability is currently rated at 10 percent and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.,The Veteran's right ring finger disability is currently rated at 0 percent (noncompensable) and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.,The Veteran's right little finger disability is currently rated at 0 percent (noncompensable) and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not reflect a gap between the thumb pad and the fingers, nor any unfavorable or favorable ankylosis in the right thumb. The Veteran's current rating is already at the maximum allowable schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5228.,There was no gap between the finger and proximal transverse crease of the hand on maximal finger flexion for the index finger, nor any unfavorable or favorable ankylosis in the right index finger. The Veteran's current rating is already at the maximum allowable schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5229.,There was no gap between the finger and proximal transverse crease of the hand on maximal finger flexion for the long finger, nor any unfavorable or favorable ankylosis in the right long finger. The Veteran's current rating is already at the maximum allowable schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5229.,There was no gap between the finger and proximal transverse crease of the hand on maximal finger flexion for the ring finger, nor any unfavorable or favorable ankylosis in the right ring finger. The Veteran's current rating is already at the maximum allowable schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5230.,There was no gap between the finger and proximal transverse crease of the hand on maximal finger flexion for the little finger, nor any unfavorable or favorable ankylosis in the right little finger. The Veteran's current rating is already at the maximum allowable schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5230.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Thumb, Right Index Finger, Right Long Finger, Right Ring Finger, Right Little Finger
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 13, 2024
- Citation
- A24074220
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 931 · Granted: 42% (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 A24074220.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted earlier effective dates of January 21, 2015 for the Veteran's claims related to his right thumb, left thumb, right index finger, left index finger, right long finger, and left long finger. The Board also granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his right thumb and elbow disabilities have been denied. The right thumb disability is currently rated at 10% since September 22, 2015. The right elbow disability was initially rated at 10%, then changed to 30% effective September 25, 2019, and subsequently back down to 10% thereafter.
- Denied
The Board denied separate ratings for neurological residuals of right thumb, right foot and left foot disabilities as the Veteran's symptoms are not related to his service-connected conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that new examinations are needed for the Veteran's right thumb disability, left leg lymphedema, and bilateral knee arthritis due to incomplete information in previous VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it could significantly impact these issues.
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