The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the left wrist is being remanded due to inadequate examination reports and the need for updated imaging studies.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner failed to provide a clear opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's loss of grip strength, muscular weakness, and atrophy associated with his service-connected left wrist disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic arthritis of the left wrist
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 9, 2017
- Citation
- 1721001
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 1721001.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
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 higher rating for his left wrist disability and associated scars was denied. However, he was granted a 40 percent rating effective June 11, 2018, and TDIU status as of December 1, 2012.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination, and the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the left wrist is being returned to the AOJ for further action.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and degenerative disk disease, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The case is REMANDED for additional development.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for residuals of a fractured left index metacarpal and traumatic arthritis of the left wrist were denied as there is no evidence that either condition meets or approximates the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.
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