Wrist & hand decisions — 2002

The veteran's residuals of a right ankle injury, ganglion cyst of the right wrist, hemorrhoids, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted initial evaluations. The right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent disabling since January 27, 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's calcific tendonitis of the left wrist is more likely than not related to his duties in service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist began during service. Service connection for this disability is granted.

The Board denied an increase in a 20 percent rating for the veteran's left wrist disability and left elbow lateral epicondylitis, finding that the current ratings were appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have been granted effective from August 11, 1970.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and an increased rating for his healed fracture, carpal navicular bone, left wrist with traumatic arthritis. The veteran did not have a current disability related to service or any incident during active duty.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected residual of scar, right wrist does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable diagnostic codes due to lack of ulceration, tenderness, underlying soft tissue loss, and full range of motion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left wrist and right knee, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his residuals of a fractured left wrist, finding that the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected right wrist fusion, finding that the current rating adequately reflects his disability.

The Board found no current diagnoses of the claimed conditions and concluded that service connection is not warranted for any of the disabilities listed.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis of the left hand and disability of the left wrist, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current bilateral knee disorder or ganglion cyst of the left wrist, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board is reopening the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a fracture of the right clavicle, fibrositis of the right shoulder with degenerative joint disease, and degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, bilateral wrists, and bilateral hands. The underlying merits of these claims will be addressed in a subsequent decision.

Service connection for residuals of a left wrist stab wound and burn scars of the right hand was granted with effective date December 22, 2000. Service connection for burn scars of the left hand was also granted with the same effective date.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss, both of which were initially granted in March 2001.

The Board found that the veteran's Galeazzi fracture of the left wrist does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation based on limitation of motion and other symptoms.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of a right wrist injury, finding that the condition is related to an in-service motorcycle accident.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially and materially to his death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of death is denied.