Citation Nr: 18144632
Decision Date: 10/25/18	Archive Date: 10/24/18

DOCKET NO. 15-08 548
DATE:	October 25, 2018
ORDER
Entitlement to an initial disability rating exceeding 10 percent for a service-connected right wrist disability is denied.
FINDING OF FACT
The Veteran’s right wrist disability is not manifested by ankylosis.
CONCLUSION OF LAW
The criteria for an initial increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran’s right wrist disability have not been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1155, 5107 (2012); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.159, 4.3, 4.7, 4.20, 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5215 (2017).
REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION
The Veteran served on active duty from May 1966 to January 1970.  This matter comes to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a rating decision issued by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Nashville, Tennessee.

Entitlement to a disability rating exceeding 10 percent for a service-connected right wrist disability is denied.
The Veteran’s right wrist disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5215.  The record clearly reflects that the Veteran is right-hand dominant.  A next-higher rating of 30 percent is warranted under Diagnostic Code 5214 where the evidence shows favorable ankylosis with dorsiflexion between 20 to 30 degrees.  
The Veteran received a VA examination in April 2013.  The VA examiner found no ankylosis and right wrist dorsiflexion of 50 degrees.  The most recent examination on record comes from the VA in August 2016.  During the August 2016 VA examination, the Veteran’s right wrist dorsiflexion was measured at 40 degrees.  Further, the VA examiner noted that there is no ankylosis in the right wrist.  The Board also affords this evidence significant probative weight.
The Board has considered the Veteran’s lay statements regarding his increased difficulty of use of his right wrist in his daily activities.  He reports pain and decreased strength, as well as decreased function of the right wrist generally.  The Veteran is competent to report his pain and difficulty in using his right wrist.  The Board also finds the Veteran credible in his contentions as his contentions are consistent with his service-connected disability.
Nevertheless, the Board finds that a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran’s right wrist disability is not warranted.  As noted, the evidence does not reflect ankylosis in the wrist or a dorsiflexion of 20 to 30 degrees.  Therefore, the evidence does not satisfy the criteria for a higher disability evaluation and the 
 
Veteran’s appeal for rating in excess of 10 percent for his right wrist disability is denied.
 
MICHAEL LANE
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	M. Hebert, Law Clerk