The Board has determined that the veteran's left wrist, which is his minor hand, suffers from severe, incomplete paralysis of the median nerve. This warrants a 40 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 8515 for paralysis of the median nerve on the minor hand. The veteran does not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on arthritis, limitation of motion, or ankylosis of the wrist. A separate compensable rating is assigned for the surgical scars at the left wrist.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows severe, incomplete paralysis of the median nerve in the minor hand, which warrants a 40 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 8515. The veteran's other conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on arthritis, limitation of motion, or ankylosis.
- Claimed conditions
- status post total left wrist arthroplasty and fusion, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- March 14, 2003
- Citation
- 0304820
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 0304820.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist based on a medical nexus between an in-service incurrence and the current diagnosis.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left wrist, a seizure disorder, an inguinal hernia, an acquired psychiatric disability, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to a procedural defect in the Veteran's submissions, as review of the May 2022 and March 2022 rating decisions could only be sought 'in one review lane at a time.'
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bronchitis, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and hearing loss. Other claims were remanded for further evaluation.
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