Wrist & hand decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left wrist disorder or acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for both the right shoulder disability and left wrist disability, which were previously denied in October 1996. The RO entered a new rating decision in April 2002 that addressed these issues.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for her hypothyroidism and left wrist disability. The VA found that the appellant did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on her current symptoms.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection as his current left upper extremity neurologic disorder is not related to his in-service shell fragment wound, and there is no evidence linking de Quervain's disease or carpal tunnel syndrome to his service.

The veteran's appeal is for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the bilateral wrists and arthritis of the right hand. The Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date for additional VA compensation benefits based on a dependent spouse.

The veteran's service-connected right wrist disability, including the postoperative scar and residual ganglionectomy, was evaluated at a 20% rating effective from January 28, 1994.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected left shoulder impingement and right wrist CTS, effective from September 2, 1997.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected status post fractures of the left and right fifth metacarpals, finding that there was no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions warranting a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome resulted in moderate incomplete paralysis, and granted a 30 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected left wrist disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for such an increase.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for musculoskeletal chest pain disorder, post-operative residuals of a left wrist ganglion cyst excision, and chronic right ankle sprain. The RO granted service connection for mixed tension vascular headaches, lumbosacral strain, cervical spine degenerative changes with muscle strain symptoms, and right knee retropatellar femoral pain syndrome.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right upper extremity disability, including his right wrist synovitis, is related to service and not due to Agent Orange exposure or any other presumptive basis. The claim for a skin disorder will be addressed separately.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right wrist fracture residuals, finding that the current rating of 40 percent adequately reflects the severity and functional impairment of his condition.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected right forearm tendonitis, effective from July 1, 1997.

The veteran's right shoulder and left wrist disabilities have been rated at the minimum (10%) level, with no evidence of additional disability warranting a higher rating.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective from October 19, 2001. The claim for a compensable rating for his left wrist condition remains denied.

The veteran's right thumb symptoms, including numbness and pain, were determined to be the result of scar tissue accumulating around the third digital nerve branches due to her 1997 VA surgery. The proximate cause was deemed not reasonably foreseeable.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a respiratory disorder, skin rash, hair loss, otitis externa, tinnitus, inguinal lymph node hyperplasia, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and a psychiatric disorder. The veteran's claims were not well grounded.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist and right shoulder disability, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.