The Board finds that the veteran is entitled to a grant of TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, and also grants service connection for arthritis of both hands.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that the veteran has degenerative arthritis in both hands and gouty arthritis in his right foot, which are considered direct service connections as they were not linked to any other conditions or exposure basis provided.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis of both hands, gouty arthritis of the right foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 4, 2003
- Citation
- 0333896
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 0333896.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings for gouty arthritis of the left foot and right foot.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's appeal was granted with an effective date of January 1, 2010 for TDIU. The other claims were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew them in favor of the TDIU claim.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for various joint disabilities, including arthritis of the hands, feet, legs, and shoulders, were granted. The conditions are considered to be due to natural progression or injury during service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis of both hands is service-connected, as it is considered to be at least as likely as not due to his normal course of aging rather than being incurred in or aggravated by service.
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