Citation Nr: 21008328
Decision Date: 02/16/21	Archive Date: 02/16/21

DOCKET NO. 18-02 905
DATE: February 16, 2021

ORDER

Entitlement to service connection for a left-hand disability is dismissed.

FINDING OF FACT

In a January 2021 rating decision, the Regional Office (RO) granted entitlement to service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left index finger, left long finger, left gamekeepers thumb, left little finger, and left ring finger.  This decision is an award of all benefits sought on appeal for this issue of service connection for a left-hand disability and the appeal is considered satisfied in full.  

CONCLUSION OF LAW

The criteria for dismissal of entitlement to service connection for a left-hand disability have been met.  38 U.S.C. § 7105(d)(5).

REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION

The Veteran had active duty service from September 1981 to August 1985.

The issue of service connection for a left-hand disability was remanded by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) in November 2020.  While in remand status, in a January 2021 rating decision, the RO granted entitlement to service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left index finger, left long finger, left gamekeepers thumb, left little finger, and left ring finger and assigned 10 percent disability ratings, effective  April 14, 2016, respectively.  The grant of service connection constitutes a full award of the benefits sought on appeal with respect to the claim of service connection for a left-hand disability.  See Grantham v. Brown, 114 F. 3d 1156, 1158 (Fed. Cir. 1997).  The record currently available to the Board contains no indication that the Veteran has initiated an appeal with the initial ratings or effective dates assigned.  Grantham, 114 F. 3d at 1158 (holding that a separate notice of disagreement must be filed to initiate appellate review of “downstream” elements such as the disability rating or effective date assigned).  

Accordingly, the Board finds that there are no allegations of errors of fact or law at this time given that the claim has been granted in full.  Thus, the Board finds that the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left-hand disability should not be in appellate status at this time and will dismiss this claim.  See 38 U.S.C. § 7105(d)(5).   

 

Eric S. Leboff

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	S. (Hurley) Merrick

The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.