The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis of the right elbow, left elbow, right wrist, left wrist, right hand, and left hand warrants a combined rating of greater than 60 percent. As such, the highest schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5002 is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis has been rated based on limitation of motion and does not meet the criteria for higher ratings due to constitutional manifestations or severe impairment of health.
- Claimed conditions
- rheumatoid arthritis of the right elbow, rheumatoid arthritis of the left elbow, rheumatoid arthritis of the right wrist, rheumatoid arthritis of the left wrist, rheumatoid arthritis of the right hand, rheumatoid arthritis of the left hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 29, 2012
- Citation
- 1218813
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 1218813.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of various body parts due to in-service exposure to hazardous materials, as an addendum opinion is needed.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the left hand and right hand have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of these claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error and will need to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the right hand, finding that there is no current diagnosis of this condition and attributing any symptoms to his already service-connected fractures.
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