BVA decisions by condition
Finger(s) amputation of one or more: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a finger(s) amputation of one or more issue in 1,556 decisions. It granted the finger(s) amputation of one or more issue in 10.3% of them, below the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 37.8%, and remanded it in 50.6%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 21.5% were granted.
Decisions
1,556
2017–2026
Granted
10.3%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
21.5%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
50.6%
Denied: 37.8%
Finger(s) amputation of one or more outcomes by year
| Year | Issues decided | Granted | Denied | Remanded | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 152 | 9.2% | 32.2% | 52.0% | 6.6% |
| 2018 | 266 | 12.0% | 35.0% | 50.8% | 2.3% |
| 2019 | 282 | 9.9% | 31.9% | 55.0% | 3.2% |
| 2020 | 198 | 7.6% | 38.9% | 53.0% | 0.5% |
| 2021 | 185 | 7.0% | 31.9% | 55.7% | 5.4% |
| 2022 | 172 | 7.0% | 28.5% | 62.2% | 2.3% |
| 2023 | 203 | 6.4% | 35.5% | 56.7% | 1.5% |
| 2024 | 174 | 9.8% | 43.1% | 46.6% | 0.6% |
| 2025 | 228 | 18.0% | 39.0% | 41.7% | 1.3% |
| 2026 | 108 | 13.9% | 52.8% | 33.3% | 0.0% |
Each row counts issues (each condition the Board decided), so the shares add up to 100%. Other: dismissed, withdrawn or no clear outcome. Years with fewer than 50 issues are left out.
Evidence in granted and denied finger(s) amputation of one or more decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the finger(s) amputation of one or more issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buddy statement | 42 | 51.9% | 20.4% | +31.5 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 64 | 45.5% | 20.8% | +24.7 pts |
| Positive nexus opinion | 137 | 40.2% | 19.0% | +21.2 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 146 | 34.6% | 19.3% | +15.3 pts |
| Combat service | 63 | 27.3% | 21.2% | +6.0 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 328 | 25.5% | 20.4% | +5.0 pts |
| Lay statement | 1,210 | 21.0% | 23.4% | −2.4 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 62.7% of the decisions that granted finger(s) amputation of one or more.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 39.8% of grants and 13.8% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often finger(s) amputation of one or more was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 586 | 19.3% | 23.2% | −4.0 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 1,038 | 18.8% | 30.6% | −11.8 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied finger(s) amputation of one or more
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established16
- Criteria for service connection met8
- Already at the maximum schedular rating7
- Caused by the service-connected disability6
- Criteria for 10 percent rating met5
- Presumption of soundness not rebutted4
- In-service injury documented4
- Meets criteria for 10 percent rating under DC 52292
Most common reasons in denials
- Already at the maximum schedular rating64
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim51
- No current diagnosis42
- Criteria for compensable rating not met26
- Current diagnosis established22
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis14
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service13
- Service records negative or silent13
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent finger(s) amputation of one or more decisions
Granted
Veteran reported onset of symptoms during ADT.; Service treatment records corroborate in-service injury (benign bone cyst).; VA examiner opinion found inadequate for failing to address pain and diagnostic imaging.; Benefit of the doubt resolved in Veteran's favor.
Service treatment records document injury to right fourth digit while at Naval Academy.; X-ray report shows fracture on right fourth finger.; VA examiner's opinion was inadequate due to incorrect factual premise regarding duty periods.
Evidence in equipoise; Benefit of doubt resolved in Veteran's favor; Corroborating statement from fellow service member
Denied
No ankylosis shown in evidence; VA exam found no ankylosis; Private opinion lacked probative value
No current disability found; VA examination found normal range of motion and no pain; March 2024 note indicated full extension, no deformity
No evidence of arthritis, ankylosis, or loss of use of right hand; No other service-connected finger conditions; Applicable diagnostic codes do not provide for a compensable rating for a single little finger disability
Rules that apply to finger(s) amputation of one or more claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your finger(s) amputation of one or more case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a finger(s) amputation of one or more issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2017–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.