The veteran's right wrist disability does not warrant a higher initial staged rating, and he is not precluded from substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The veteran's right wrist disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes, as there is no evidence of ankylosis or impairment that would warrant a higher evaluation. Additionally, while the veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities, they do not collectively preclude him from substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of right wrist sprain, scapholunate advanced collapse with carporadial degeneration, dominant hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 10, 2008
- Citation
- 0811942
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development and readjudication.
- Denied
The Board denied higher initial ratings for residuals of right and left wrist sprains, as well as for right shoulder rotator cuff dysfunction, finding no evidence of functional impairment or pain on undertaking motion, fatigue, weakness, or incoordination.
- Denied
The veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total rating based on individual unemployability were denied. The initial rating of 10 percent for the right wrist disability was maintained, and a temporary total rating beyond February 28, 2004 due to surgical treatment was also denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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