The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for arthralgia of the lumbar spine and carpometacarpal dysfunction following hand surgery, finding that the evidence does not support a grant of service connection or an increased rating under any applicable criteria.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not provide sufficient medical findings to establish service connection or warrant an increase in disability ratings for the veteran's conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- arthralgia of the lumbar spine, carpometacarpal dysfunction following hand surgery for dislocation, right
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 11, 2003
- Citation
- 0323549
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0323549.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for a special home adaptation grant or assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability, evaluate his stomach disorder under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151, and determine whether he has a cervical spine disorder that is related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The claim for service connection for back injury, now claimed as arthralgia of the lumbar spine, is reopened. The claims for service connection for arthralgia of the cervical spine and knees are remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for a gunshot wound of the left shoulder and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, effective from the initial grant of service connection. The appeal was not about service connection for a low back disorder.
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