The Board has denied increased ratings for the Veteran's left wrist condition and thoracolumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome with osteoarthritis. The case is remanded due to issues remaining unresolved.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes, including those related to arthritis and ankylosis of the wrist.
- Claimed conditions
- Left wrist sprain, Degenerative arthritis of left wrist
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19177235
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,454 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19177235.
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 appeal for increased ratings for various conditions, including PTSD, neck disability, low back disability, wrist sprains, and left foot dermatitis with dermatophytosis, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings in any of these cases.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for PTSD and depression, and denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The Veteran's current psychiatric disorder is not related to his active duty service. His left wrist sprain does not meet the criteria for TDIU.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, right hip strain, lumbosacral strain, right knee meniscal tear, and left wrist sprain. The claim for service connection for cervical strain was remanded.
- Dismissed
The appeal for increased ratings for left wrist sprain and bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
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