The veteran's arthritis of the right wrist, post traumatic, combined with postoperative changes with fusions is currently rated at 40 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to unfavorable ankylosis.
The deciding factor: The VA examination revealed that the joint was fused in a neutral position but not fixed in any degree of palmar flexion or with ulnar or radial deviation, thus failing to meet the criteria for favorable ankylosis which would warrant a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis of the right wrist, post traumatic, postoperative changes with fusions
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- March 18, 2002
- Citation
- 0202497
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 0202497.
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 of Veterans' Appeals remands the issues of service connection for various conditions, including arthritis and Raynaud's syndrome, to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for hypertension and bilateral retinopathy as secondary to hypertension pursuant to the PACT Act, while remanding other claims for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a right wrist disability, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the right wrist and no nexus between the current condition and service. The claim for a left wrist disability was remanded due to a lack of notification regarding a scheduled examination.
- Partly granted
The Board granted the request to readjudicate the claim of service connection for arthritis of the left wrist and denied it for the right wrist.
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