The Veteran's lumbosacral spine condition is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, and his right hand osteoarthritis does not warrant a compensable evaluation. The bilateral wrist disability has been granted service connection.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with fusion at L5-S1 results in pain with forward flexion to 75 degrees and no additional functional loss due to flare-ups, incapacitating episodes, or other factors. His right hand osteoarthritis does not result in any compensable limitation of motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with fusion at L5-S1, Osteoarthritis of the right hand
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 25, 2011
- Citation
- 1143321
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 1143321.
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 Board granted a 10 percent disability rating for osteoarthritis of the right hand and service connection for a left shoulder disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for a bilateral upper extremity disability, which includes right carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), osteoarthritis of the right hand, and right index trigger finger. The Veteran asserts that these disabilities are secondary to his now service-connected dizziness.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the bilateral hands did not have onset in service, was not related to his service-connected gout, and is not otherwise related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the bilateral hands is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded as the Board cannot make a decision on an extraschedular basis without further review by the Director of Compensation Service.
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