The Board granted service connection for a scar of the left index finger and partial loss of sensation of the left index finger, finding that these conditions are related to an in-service knife laceration injury.
The deciding factor: The Board found credible lay statements supporting an in-service injury history and considered the first documentary evidence of the Veteran's left index finger scar being noted on separation examination. The service connection was granted based on a direct link between the current disabilities and the in-service event.
- Claimed conditions
- partial loss of sensation of the left index finger, scar of the left index finger
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- March 13, 2025
- Citation
- A25023567
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,088 · Granted: 33% (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 A25023567.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected. The other claims are remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spondylosis and spinal stenosis at L4-5 lumbar spine with associated radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants his TDIU claim.
- Granted
The Board granted a 10 percent disability rating for the Veteran's scar of the left index finger, effective July 17, 2006. The scar is superficial, sensitive, tender, and sometimes painful.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.
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