Wrist & hand decisions — 2000

The veteran's appeal was dismissed because her substantive appeal did not discuss any errors of fact or law regarding the issue of an initial compensable disability evaluation for a right wrist disorder.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against the veteran's claim for service connection for right wrist fusion as being secondary to his service-connected postoperative peripheral neuropathy of the left ulnar nerve. The case is remanded for an additional VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist and hand arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, and right ear defective hearing. Service connection was also granted for left knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The veteran's claims for a well-grounded claim of service connection for a left knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder are pending.

The Board has found that the veteran's arthritis of multiple joints is not related to her period of active service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a cardiac disability characterized as sinus bradycardia and awarded an original evaluation of 10 percent for right and left wrist disabilities. Service connection was also established for lumbar, cervical, and thoracic spine disabilities. However, the Board denied claims for service connection for pulmonary and sinusitis disabilities due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected osteoarthritis of the dorsal spine, dermatitis with a history of yaws, right wrist osteoarthritis, and left ankle sprain with osteoarthritis. The highest schedular rating available under the applicable criteria was assigned.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to increased evaluations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist and thumb disabilities are not well grounded. The RO is directed to schedule the veteran for a VA examination to assess his right knee disability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disability due to new and material evidence submitted, but it remains unclear if all of the evidence warrants granting service connection.

The veteran's right wrist sprain, major depression, and lateral meniscus tear of the left knee are all currently rated at their maximum levels. The claims for increased evaluations have been granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right wrist disability, left wrist disability, and psychiatric disorder. The decision found no current diagnosed disabilities and insufficient evidence linking any claimed conditions to service.

The veteran's low back disorder is rated at 20 percent, and his right wrist residuals are not compensable.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the residuals of an excision of a ganglion cyst of the right wrist. The effective date for the 10 percent rating assigned for the right wrist disorder is October 7, 1992.

The veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and ankle disabilities are currently rated based on their severity, but do not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The VA denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected conditions, including residuals of a fractured pelvis and right femoral shaft, left wrist laceration with medial nerve involvement, and laparotomy with intestinal resection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for thyroid cancer is well grounded, but her claims of fibromyalgia and polyneuropathy/bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to exposure to non-ionizing radiation are not well grounded. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board denied an increased rating for service-connected obstructive airway disease and tendonitis of the right wrist, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for dry mouth syndrome secondary to PTSD medications is well-grounded, and he is entitled to a compensable rating for his healed carpal navicular fracture of the right wrist.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well-grounded and therefore denied.

The veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds it does not warrant a higher rating.,The veteran's residuals of gunshot wounds to the left wrist and fingers are rated as one disability (residuals of gunshot wound to the left wrist) with a single 50 percent rating effective October 8, 1992.