Wrist & hand decisions — 2001

The Board has determined that the veteran's loss of use of his left hand does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a hand, as he is still able to perform many functions using his left arm and hand.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right wrist disability found to be present.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed right wrist, left wrist, and bilateral knee disabilities are not related to her active service. The evidence does not support a finding of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal because he did not file a timely substantive appeal regarding his claims for service connection for left wrist disability and disability of ribs.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to acoustic trauma incurred in service. The RO granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to noise trauma during service.

The veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected conditions do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and left wrist disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent under applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. Service connection was granted for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction of the right knee, but not for residuals of a fracture to the right ankle or residuals of distal radius fracture of the right wrist (major).

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for various service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, carpal tunnel release of both wrists, hemorrhoids, repair of anal fissure, removal of colon polyps, plantar fasciitis of the right foot, residuals of cholecystectomy, residuals of appendectomy, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim for service connection for a right wrist disorder.

The Board found that the veteran's left wrist disability, which includes severe, painful motion and weakness, is currently rated at 30 percent. The claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Board denied the appellant's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection for a back injury and also denied his request for an increased combined rating. The decision upheld the current 40% rating.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite of the feet and lower legs, or residuals of a right wrist injury. The back and right hip disabilities are not found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right femur.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a causal nexus between the veteran's active military service and his diagnosed conditions, including GERD, right CTS, and degenerative joint disease of the right elbow. Service connection was denied for these conditions.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement or payment of medical expenses incurred at a non-VA facility on February 21, 2000 was denied because the treatment did not involve any service-connected disability and there were no circumstances that would warrant reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right wrist disability, characterized by severe incomplete paralysis of the median nerve, warrants a 50 percent rating.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected disabilities of the right wrist, right leg, and left leg. The veteran was already in receipt of the maximum rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the veteran's left wrist disability, which is currently rated as noncompensable.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU were denied. The residuals of a left fibula fracture with loss of artery circulation and ischemic neuropathy do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as there is no evidence of complete paralysis or nonunion of the tibia and fibula. For his knee conditions, including meniscal tear in the left knee and patellofemoral syndrome on the right knee, he does not have limitation of motion that would warrant an increased rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.