The veteran's right thumb DJD and lumbar spine DDD are already rated, but the appeal is being remanded for further review.
The deciding factor: The current ratings do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the revised criteria effective September 23, 2002 and September 26, 2003.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the right thumb, Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, status post spinal fusion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 9, 2008
- Citation
- 0800788
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 0800788.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's right thumb DJD is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, but the Board finds no basis for a higher rating in excess of this current rating.
- Denied
The Veteran's DJD of the right thumb is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected right thumb and right index finger disabilities are currently rated at the maximum schedular level (20 percent), with no additional functional impairment warranting a higher evaluation.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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