{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/thumb-impairment","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:02.262Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Thumb impairment","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":1306,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":17.5,"denied_pct":40.6,"remanded_pct":41.5,"granted_on_merits_pct":30.2,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":71,"granted_pct":12.7,"denied_pct":35.2,"remanded_pct":45.1},{"year":2018,"issues":104,"granted_pct":23.1,"denied_pct":24,"remanded_pct":51.9},{"year":2019,"issues":139,"granted_pct":26.6,"denied_pct":30.9,"remanded_pct":36.7},{"year":2020,"issues":171,"granted_pct":12.3,"denied_pct":44.4,"remanded_pct":42.1},{"year":2021,"issues":197,"granted_pct":17.8,"denied_pct":41.6,"remanded_pct":38.1},{"year":2022,"issues":185,"granted_pct":14.1,"denied_pct":39.5,"remanded_pct":45.9},{"year":2023,"issues":168,"granted_pct":12.5,"denied_pct":35.1,"remanded_pct":51.2},{"year":2024,"issues":194,"granted_pct":19.6,"denied_pct":44.3,"remanded_pct":34.5},{"year":2025,"issues":166,"granted_pct":21.1,"denied_pct":48.2,"remanded_pct":29.5},{"year":2026,"issues":79,"granted_pct":15.2,"denied_pct":48.1,"remanded_pct":35.4}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":56.8,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":156,"granted_pct_with":48.4,"granted_pct_without":26.7},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":982,"granted_pct_with":27.7,"granted_pct_without":43.7},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":128,"granted_pct_with":50.5,"granted_pct_without":27.3},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":473,"granted_pct_with":27.1,"granted_pct_without":32},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":313,"granted_pct_with":35.6,"granted_pct_without":28.2},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":45,"granted_pct_with":51.4,"granted_pct_without":29.1},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":1066,"granted_pct_with":28.9,"granted_pct_without":37.5},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":53,"granted_pct_with":36.4,"granted_pct_without":29.9}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":23},{"reason":"painful motion warrants minimum compensable rating","decisions":5},{"reason":"criteria for service connection met","decisions":4},{"reason":"criteria for 10 percent rating met","decisions":4},{"reason":"continuity of symptomatology since service","decisions":4},{"reason":"new and material evidence submitted","decisions":3}],"denied":[{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":35},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":31},{"reason":"no gap between thumb pad and fingers","decisions":24},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":21},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":20},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":17}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26031597","year":2026,"judge":"DAVID GRATZ","rationale":"Favorable finding from March 2021 rating decision regarding current disability and in-service complaints.; Private medical opinion found condition at least as likely as not related to cumulative biomechanical strain from in-service duties.; Evidence found to be in equipoise, resolving doubt in Veter… [truncated, 11 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26029245","year":2026,"judge":"S.C. KREMBS","rationale":"Onset during service; Positive private nexus opinion; Inadequate VA exam"},{"case_id":"A26020323","year":2026,"judge":"STEVEN D. REISS","rationale":"Functional impairment of right thumb reported by Veteran; History of right thumb internal repair noted on separation examination; Benefit of the doubt applied due to incomplete records on timing of surgery"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26040158","year":2026,"judge":"WILLIAM H. DONNELLY","rationale":"No evidence of in-service injury in STRs; Contradictory statements regarding injury mechanism; Lack of credible evidence of injury during IADT"},{"case_id":"A26038607","year":2026,"judge":"MICHAEL LANE","rationale":"No current diagnosis found; No objective evidence of functional impairment; Evidence persuasively against service connection"},{"case_id":"A26036588","year":2026,"judge":"DAVID H. ROBERTSON","rationale":"No in-service treatment or mention of left thumb injury in service treatment records.; VA examiner opined less likely than not related to service.; Significant delay in seeking treatment for the left thumb injury."}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}