The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to a higher rating for right carpal tunnel syndrome.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current range of motion testing results would result in a noncompensable rating under Diagnostic Code 5215 due to painful motion, but there is no basis to assign a higher rating based on pain alone. The Veteran’s complaints of hand and wrist numbness are already compensated by the rating assigned for his service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Claimed conditions
- Right wrist triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) surgery, Right carpal tunnel syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19172756
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 19172756.
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 an earlier effective date for right carpal tunnel syndrome is denied as the award was granted in a separate claim filed after the initial increase rating appeal.
- Granted
The Board has granted earlier effective dates of December 7, 2020 for service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability has been granted. The right wrist and carpal tunnel syndrome claims have both been denied, with the right wrist rating remaining at 10 percent.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome and a TDIU due to PTSD, effective October 25, 2021. SMC was also granted from March 16, 2022.
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