The Veteran's left wrist disability is granted an increased rating of 20 percent, effective October 4, 2012. Service connection for decreased grip strength and numbness in the left hand is denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise on whether the Veteran's symptoms of decreased grip strength and numbness in the left hand were part of his service-connected left wrist disability, which already includes these symptoms as part of its rating criteria. Therefore, a separate rating for this condition is denied.
- Claimed conditions
- Left wrist degenerative joint disease, Decreased grip strength in left hand, Numbness in left hand fingers
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 1, 2023
- Citation
- 23020222
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 23020222.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right hip arthritis is rated at 20 percent for the period prior to May 19, 2022 and at 20 percent since then.,The Veteran's left ankle strain is rated at 20 percent throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's right elbow strain (limitation of flexion) is rated at 30 percent for the period prior to May 19, 2022 and at noncompensable since then. The limitation of extension is rated as noncompensable.,The Veteran's right wrist degenerative joint disease is rated at 10 percent throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's left wrist degenerative joint disease is rated at 10 percent throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's right foot degenerative joint disease is rated at 20 percent for the period prior to May 19, 2022 and at noncompensable since then.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected low back disability and left wrist degenerative joint disease have rendered him unable to maintain substantial gainful employment since November 20, 2015. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to increased evaluations for right and left wrist degenerative joint disease due to the Veteran's contentions of worsening symptoms since his last examinations, and the indication that he underwent surgery after those examinations. The VA is required to provide a new examination if there is evidence of an increase in severity since the last examination.
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