Wrist & hand decisions — 2001

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including residuals of right ankle exostosectomy, arthritis of the right wrist, paresthesia of left ulnar nerve, and fracture of the right 5th metatarsal, are currently rated at their maximum schedular evaluations. The RO denied increased evaluations for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran did not timely perfect an appeal as to his claims for service connection for a disability manifested by dizziness and service connection for ulcers, gastritis, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome, and chronic fatigue syndrome. As such, the Board does not have jurisdiction over these claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist sprain, lumbar strain, corneal abrasion of the left eye, and anaphylactic sensitivity to fire ant venom were denied as there is no current evidence of a disability related to these conditions. The stress fracture of the right leg and bilateral hearing loss have been granted but with noncompensable evaluations.

The veteran's service records show he sustained shrapnel wounds to his right elbow, right hand (claimed as the right wrist), and head during World War II. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions based on combat status and medical evidence linking current residuals to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, proteinuria (claimed as right and left wrist disorders), and initial compensable evaluations for sinusitis and bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spurs. The issues were not adjudicated due to a procedural issue regarding the denial of service connection for a left wrist injury.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has remanded the case due to a conflict in the record regarding whether the veteran currently has bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and its relationship to service. The RO is instructed to obtain medical records, provide notification under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000, and readjudicate the claim.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from preparing for, obtaining, or retaining suitable employment in his chosen field of catfish farming.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from preparing for, obtaining, or retaining suitable employment in his chosen field of catfish farming.

Both the right wrist and right knee disabilities are currently rated at 10% due to their respective limitations in motion and associated pain. No additional factors warranting higher ratings have been identified.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for his right wrist disability, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain or flare-ups.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before a final decision can be made on the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the Board's failure to consider the criteria for ratings greater than those currently assigned.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee retropatellar pain syndrome and right wrist de Quervain's syndrome, finding that there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal as it is without jurisdiction to consider the issue of whether the reduction of the assigned disability evaluation for left carpal tunnel syndrome from 10 percent to noncompensable was proper.

The Board denied an extra-schedular evaluation for the service-connected right wrist disability, finding that the residuals did not markedly interfere with employment or result in frequent hospitalizations.

The Board found that the veteran's residuals of a left wrist fracture do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, as her disability does not meet the criteria for severe incomplete paralysis or limitation of motion equivalent to ankylosis.

The veteran's claims for service connection for the residuals of a jaw injury and tinnitus were reopened, but denied. The claim for carpal tunnel syndrome was also reopened, but denied due to lack of current evidence.

The Board has granted an increased rating for Osgood-Schlatter's disease, old, residuals, right knee injury and service connection for the residuals of a right wrist injury secondary to service connected Osgood-Schlatter's disease. The claim for service connection for a low back disorder is denied.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of shell fragment wounds to the right arm, effective from May 1996. The rating for dysthymic disorder remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disorder and an eye disorder need further development due to missing medical records. The RO is instructed to obtain any outstanding medical records, including those from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) and Army, and provide the veteran with appropriate notification of his rights under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.