The Board granted a reinstatement of the 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's low back disability, effective November 1, 2022. The Board also granted an increased evaluation to 20 percent for left hand radial digital nerve impairment based on moderate incomplete paralysis.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran had a painful scar and moderate incomplete paralysis of the musculospiral (radial) nerve in his left hand, which warranted an increase in rating.
- Claimed conditions
- low back disability, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease with SI joint strain and degenerative arthritis, left hand index finger disability, status post hand laceration with tenosynovitis, left hand long finger disability, status post hand laceration with tenosynovitis, left hand ring finger disability, status post hand laceration with tenosynovitis, left hand little finger disability, status post hand laceration with tenosynovitis, painful left hand post laceration scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 23, 2025
- Citation
- A25046434
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for further development and consideration of evidence not previously considered.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, right hip condition, left hip condition, low back disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as there was no evidence of in-service injury or illness related to these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hemorrhoids, scars, low back disability, left ankle disability, left and right shoulder disabilities, and left and right hip disabilities as the evidence did not show that the Veteran had these conditions or related symptoms during the appeal period.
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