The VA determined that the veteran's right wrist condition did not meet the criteria for SMC based on loss of use of the upper extremity, as he retained more use than would be possible with an amputation.
The deciding factor: The VA found that the veteran had marked limitation of motion in his right wrist but still retained effective function other than what could be equally well served by an amputation with a suitable prosthetic appliance.
- Claimed conditions
- Right wrist arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 25, 2006
- Citation
- 0602155
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 609 · Granted: 22% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0602155.
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: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's eligibility for enrollment in VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) due to her not requiring personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months based on an inability to perform one or more activities of daily living, a need for supervision or protection, or a need for regular or extensive instruction without which the ability to function in daily life would be seriously impaired.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands all service connection claims for further development and to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right wrist, bilateral shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran contends that his current conditions are related to an in-service fall.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disability, finding that there is insufficient evidence to support the claim and requiring an updated medical opinion.
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