The Board granted an increased 60 percent rating for the Veteran's left-hand disability and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of the left hand, effective July 17, 2015.
The deciding factor: The evidence demonstrated that the Veteran's service-connected left-hand disability was manifested by loss of use of the hand, warranting a 60 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 8516 and a special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of the left hand.
- Claimed conditions
- Left-hand disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- February 12, 2025
- Citation
- 25002125
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,036 · Granted: 27% (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 25002125.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The Board dismissed the issues of an initial compensable rating for right-hand cyst of the little finger and service connection for a left-hand disability. The Veteran's asthma was granted an initial rating of 60 percent, but no higher, prior to September 22, 2023.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand all of the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA opinions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including GERD, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability, and multiple musculoskeletal and other conditions, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's active duty service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the veteran's right shoulder, right-hand, left-hand, right foot, and left foot disabilities as there was no evidence to support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.
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