The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's left fifth finger and right knee scars, as well as remanded claims for increased ratings for his right knee degenerative arthritis status post right knee replacement with residual strain, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left little finger ankylosis at the proximal interphalangeal joint status post fusion, and right little finger fracture.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a compensable rating for the scars due to their size and lack of associated symptoms such as pain or instability. For the increased ratings claims, additional examination was needed to accurately assess the severity of the disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- left fifth finger scar residuals, left little finger ankylosis at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint status post fusion (left fifth finger disability), right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain (right ankle disability), right knee degenerative arthritis status post right knee replacement with residual strain (right knee disability), right knee scars, right little finger fracture (right fifth finger disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 13, 2025
- Citation
- A25023684
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,506 · Granted: 43% (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 A25023684.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several claims for further action, including effective date determinations and service connection determinations. The Veteran's service records from Portsmouth Naval Hospital are requested to be obtained.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left and right knee scars have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed as untimely.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected left and right knee conditions, as well as his service-connected left and right knee scars. The AOJ will need to correct duty-to-assist errors by obtaining new VA examinations.
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.