The Board found that the veteran's arthritis of the hands was incurred in service and granted service connection.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and medical records showed a history of arthritis dating back to his military service, including X-rays showing osteoarthritis involving primarily the DIP joints.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis of the hands
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- March 3, 2003
- Citation
- 0303611
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,515 · Granted: 20% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0303611.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a foot condition due to lack of evidence supporting a link between the conditions and the Veteran's military service. The claim for arthritis of the hands was remanded for further development.
- Granted
Service connection has been granted for arthritis of the cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, hands, right knee, left knee, migraine headaches, and sinus condition (to include allergic rhinitis).,Prostate cancer has also been granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that more information is needed regarding the Veteran's hand disability, and a remand is ordered to allow for further examination and consideration of his claim.
- Granted
The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for PTSD, service connection for diabetes mellitus, and arthritis of the neck, spine, knees, and hands is dismissed as his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has already been granted.
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