The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the left wrist is related to a fracture injury in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as bipolar disorder) remains pending.
The deciding factor: A VA examiner provided sufficient evidence linking the current degenerative joint disease of the left wrist to the Veteran's in-service fracture injury, establishing a nexus between the disability and service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Left Wrist, Dysthymic/depressive disorder (claimed as bipolar disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 9, 2013
- Citation
- 1321904
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 1321904.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that his condition began during active service or is related to an in-service injury.,The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for degenerative joint disease of the left wrist with osteopenia was also denied, as the evidence did not show ankylosis or other functional equivalent of ankylosis.
- Granted
The Veteran's left wrist DJD was granted an increased rating to 20 percent effective March 22, 2004. The earlier stage of the increased rating (prior to March 22, 2004) remains in appellate status.
- Granted
The Veteran's left wrist disability, characterized by degenerative joint disease, is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5215. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's current left wrist disabilities, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease and De Quervain's tenosynovitis, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not show a pre-existing condition was aggravated during service.
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