Wrist & hand decisions — 2001

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his thoracolumbar strain, finding that he did not have a right wrist disability or significant thoracolumbar strain.

The Board has determined that the veteran's overuse disorder of the right hand and wrist was incurred during service, granting his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, a cyst of the right side of the neck, gastroenteritis, an eye disorder, a plantar wart, an injury of the foot, a skin rash, blisters of the hands, and right wrist injury are all granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, right wrist pain, and nerve disease as not well grounded. The claim for an increased rating for depression was also denied.

The VA denied a compensable disability rating for the veteran's right wrist ganglion cyst, and also denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent effective October 27, 1999. The veteran's residuals of head trauma with associated headaches are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling and a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an increased evaluation for her service-connected right carpal tunnel syndrome with tendonitis, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is the result of injury in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including a new examination of the veteran's left knee and consideration of service connection claims for left ankle and wrist disorders. The veteran will also be provided with a statement of the case on these issues.

The Board has granted a combined rating of 40 percent for the appellant's right wrist disability, which includes a separate rating of 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5010 for traumatic arthritis and a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5211 for nonunion of the ulna styloid. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher schedular ratings or extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder pain and an initial compensable rating for right carpal tunnel syndrome, finding no current disability or evidence of recurrence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral wrist disorder. The veteran's claim remains denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have been evaluated based on their current manifestations. The Board has determined that the currently assigned ratings are appropriate for all issues addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's left shoulder disorder, including arthritis, as aggravated by his service. The other issues on appeal will be addressed in a separate remand.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The arthritis claim was considered both on a primary basis and as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of a right wrist ganglionectomy and disability of the right hand other than residuals of a chip fracture of the middle finger, finding that these conditions are not related to military service.

The Board found that the reduction in rating for the service-connected synovitis of the right wrist was improper and denied the claim.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right total knee replacement and bilateral hearing loss, effectively preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome as secondary to a service-connected right elbow flexion contracture, finding no evidence linking the carpal tunnel syndrome to his service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding that the right clavicular fracture did not result from VA treatment or vocational rehabilitation.