Wrist & hand decisions — 2002

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board finds that the veteran's arthritis and narcolepsy were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may arthritis be presumed to have been so incurred. The claim of service connection for headaches is denied as new and material evidence has not been presented.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was aggravated by active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal, finding that separation pay should be recouped from his VA disability compensation as required by law. The veteran argued for financial hardship and a delay in initiating recoupment proceedings, but these arguments were not sufficient to overturn the requirement.

The veteran's appeal is about the rating for his service-connected left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome. The RO has requested additional medical records and will conduct a VA examination to assess the current severity of the condition. If the claim is not granted, the veteran will be provided with a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Board has granted service connection for reactive airway disease, left leg sensory deficit of the saphenous nerve, tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, and left retropatellar pain syndrome. Service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for gout was not addressed. The RO denied the claim for hypertension in February 1996 and the veteran did not appeal this decision. Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee was granted with a 10 percent rating effective June 26, 1984. The issue of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee remains pending.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected grenade fragmentation wound to the left arm, and denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected cervical spine, left shoulder, and right wrist disabilities. The RO had previously granted these conditions with specific disability ratings.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, a low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected left wrist fracture, currently rated at 10 percent. The evidence showed slight limitation of motion and difficulty lifting weights.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic dermatitis and found that the veteran's PTSD, ulcer disorder, prostate disorder, left wrist cyst, chest disorder, eye disorder, blackouts, stiff-man syndrome, gout, hernia, hypertension, and sleep disorder are related to his military service.