The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist and left elbow disabilities do not warrant a higher disability rating based on their current manifestations, as they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation under any applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left wrist arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent due to limitation of motion with pain. The June 2013 VA examination showed flexion limited to 70 degrees, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as flexion must be limited to 55 degrees or less for a 30 percent evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Wrist Arthritis, Left Elbow Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 7, 2015
- Citation
- 1500556
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 1500556.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) is denied as he does not meet the schedular or extraschedular criteria for TDIU.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left elbow arthritis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his left wrist arthritis or painful surgical scar, status post left wrist surgery.,Effective dates for service connection have been assigned based on the date of receipt of claim.
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