The Board granted an initial 10 percent rating for the Veteran's right little finger disability, finding that the functional impairment of the right little finger more nearly approximated amputation without metacarpal resection.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the functional impairment of the right little finger, which more closely aligned with the criteria for a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5156.
- Claimed conditions
- Right little finger disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 1, 2025
- Citation
- 25005992
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,240 · Granted: 28% (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 25005992.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a right little finger disability and remanded the claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability due to incomplete records.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran was not unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 1, 2017 due to his service-connected right little finger disability. The evidence showed he had multiple nonservice-connected disabilities and occasional right hand impairment but could still perform employment duties.
- Partly granted
The Board granted initial ratings for the Veteran's right thumb, index finger, and long finger disabilities, as well as a separate rating for his left thumb disability. The claims for increased ratings for the right ring and little fingers, and left ring and little fingers were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for allergic rhinitis, bilateral ankle disabilities, hypertension, left knee disability, right little finger disability, and left hand scar as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.