The Board has determined that the veteran's decreased grip strength of the right hand warrants a 30 percent rating, effective from May 2001.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows moderate to severe impairment in the veteran's ability to grasp and pick up small items with his right hand, consistent with incomplete paralysis of the musculospiral nerve (radial nerve).
- Claimed conditions
- Decreased grip strength of the right hand, Degenerative arthritis of the right wrist, Residuals of a first metacarpal bone fracture (thumb)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- June 27, 2006
- Citation
- 0618807
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 832 · Granted: 18% (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 0618807.
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 Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 10 percent, but the Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right wrist (major extremity), finding that his constant pain effectively precludes all movement due to ankylosis in a resting position.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several service connection claims due to a lack of evidence regarding the etiology of certain conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's use of VA-issued right wrist and bilateral knee braces caused excessive wear and tear on his clothing, warranting the award of clothing allowances for 2014.
- Denied
The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent for degenerative arthritis, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would allow for a higher evaluation.
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