The Veteran's claim for a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left hand was denied. The Board found that his symptoms did not warrant such a rating.,The Veteran’s claim for an extraschedular evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the left hand is remanded to determine if it warrants consideration outside the regular schedular criteria.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show a gap of at least two inches between the thumb pad and fingers, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5228. The Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,The Veteran’s left-hand disability significantly impacts his employment as a mail handler, indicating an exceptional or unusual disability picture that is not adequately addressed by the current schedular criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Left Hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19166189
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,874 · Granted: 33% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19166189.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for various service-connected disabilities due to incomplete medical records and the need for updated VA examinations.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's left hand disability, other than radiculopathy, is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected cervical spine disability.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and multiple joint disorders, are found to be severe enough to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.