Wrist & hand decisions — 2002

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a fractured right wrist have primarily consisted of pain on radial deviation, stiffness, weakness, crepitus, fatigue on use, limitation of motion, and flare-ups during bad weather. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent were not met.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an increased rating for his service-connected gunshot wound to the left wrist with retained foreign bodies, muscle group VII, finding that the disability is appropriately rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and finds no evidence to support service connection for any of them.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have carpal tunnel syndrome on the left, a stomach ulcer, or sinus disability/lymphadenopathy that were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status since December 1, 1999.

The Board granted secondary service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist and increased the rating to 20 percent effective from September 10, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for postoperative residuals of carpal tunnel syndrome and a temporary total rating beyond May 31, 1998 due to convalescence from surgery. The evidence did not show more than moderate impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left carpal tunnel syndromes do not warrant higher disability ratings as they are currently evaluated.

The Board has granted a 10 percent initial rating for degenerative arthritis of both knees, wrists and hands.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right wrist and shoulder disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his active service, nor are they related to a service-connected condition. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim of service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome and denied both his claim for service connection and his request for an increased rating.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, defective vision of the left eye, and a chronic back disorder were all denied. The claim for service connection for a left wrist disorder was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for left shoulder impingement syndrome, residuals of a left wrist fracture, and recurrent lumbosacral strain.

The Board found that the veteran's neurological disorders, including peripheral neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, and cubital tunnel syndrome, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran incurred carpal tunnel syndrome during service and currently suffers from it, granting her claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his request for withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, back injury residuals, left wrist injury residuals, and left index finger injury residuals. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or are related to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear disease, hearing loss disability, degenerative joint disease of the glenohumeral joint, bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, and residuals of a right wrist injury. The evidence does not support the presence of these conditions during or after military service.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the veteran's right wrist fusion with scar, finding that it warrants such an increase based on the evidence of record.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused him to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of March 1, 2000.