The Board denied a request for an increased disability rating for the Veteran's left wrist condition, currently rated at 10 percent. The evidence did not demonstrate ankylosis or involvement of two major joints with occasional incapacitating exacerbations.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence showed no additional functional loss beyond what was already accounted for in the current rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- left wrist condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20007575
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a left wrist condition was dismissed due to concurrent election of higher-level review. The claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral pes planus, and for service connection for hearing loss, neck strain, and dermatitis were denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for back, left wrist, left and right knee, and left and right shoulder conditions due to missing personnel records and an inadequate VA medical opinion.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including OSA, cervical spine condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and others, but dismissed appeals for obesity, TMJ, insomnia, left elbow, and right elbow. The Board also denied an earlier effective date for a 70% rating for acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for multiple orthopedic conditions and a psychiatric condition due to the need for additional development, including obtaining new medical opinions.
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