The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the service-connected right hand disability, which is considered to be equivalent to loss of use of the right hand. Special monthly compensation based on the loss of use of the right hand has also been awarded.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows severe limitation of motion in the right wrist and elbow, motor function deficit, right ulnar neuropathy, moderate to severe degenerative joint disease, and a need for continued use of a brace. These findings are consistent with loss of use of the right hand.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Upper Extremity Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 15, 2004
- Citation
- 0406690
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 493 · Granted: 28% (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 0406690.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding service connection and exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's hearing loss is not compensably rated, and his neurological disorders are being reviewed for possible service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to errors in denying service connection on a direct basis without explaining why an examination and opinion considering direct service connection was not warranted.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a right upper extremity disability and denied an increased rating for GERD. The Veteran's TDIU claim was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran's testimony raises a claim for service connection of a right upper extremity disability as secondary to his service-connected right hand strain. The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA examinations and opinions regarding the nature, severity, and etiology of both the right hand strain and any related right upper extremity disabilities.
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