The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right wrist tenosynovitis, De Quervain's Syndrome and also found that he did not meet the criteria for service connection for hiatal hernia, GERD, heartburn, or other related symptoms.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed no evidence of ankylosis, which is required for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5215. The Veteran's right wrist had limited motion but not to the extent that would warrant an ankylosis finding.
- Claimed conditions
- right wrist tenosynovitis, De Quervain's Syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 9, 2015
- Citation
- 1551587
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1551587.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left and right wrist tenosynovitis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were caused by her military service.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the untimely submission of a notice of disagreement within one year of the May 2014 rating decision.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied higher initial ratings for left and right wrist tenosynovitis but granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for residuals of mild traumatic brain injury with post-traumatic headaches was denied. The evidence did not show that the condition resulted in Level 2 impairment, which is necessary to warrant a 40 percent rating.,The Veteran's application for TDIU was also denied as his service-connected disabilities alone do not meet the schedular criteria for individual unemployability.
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