Wrist & hand decisions — 2002

The veteran's right wrist injuries sustained in November 1989 were the result of his own willful misconduct, and therefore compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a right wrist disorder are denied.

The veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left wrists are each rated at 10 percent, while his degenerative joint disease of C2-C7 is currently rated at 20 percent. The appeals for higher evaluations have been denied.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, but denied some issues related to earlier effective dates.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome and median and ulnar neuropathy, claimed as weakness in the right hand, are not related to his service-connected disability of residuals of injury of the right scapula.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to assess the veteran's liver laceration residuals. The claims for increased ratings for left wrist fracture and liver laceration are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right wrist, right knee, and left knee disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent since service connection was established.

The Board granted an increased rating from 20 percent to 30 percent for partial amputations of the ring and little fingers of the right hand, effective May 8, 1999. The veteran's arthritis of the first carpometacarpal joint of the right hand is rated at 20 percent, while his arthritis of the right wrist remains at 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected left wrist disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from May 21, 1992. The RO has granted an increased rating for the period since June 1, 1972 to May 20, 1992.

The Board found that the August 1981 rating decision did not involve clear and unmistakable error in assigning a 10 percent evaluation for multiple non-compensable service-connected disabilities, with an effective date of May 15, 1981. The veteran's claim was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including schizophrenia, bilateral hearing loss, chronic muscular strain with tendonitis of the shoulders, chronic synovitis with ulnar nerve irritation of the elbows, moderate and chronic synovitis of the hands and wrists, a pulmonary disorder, and skin rashes. The Board found that none of these claims were legally merited.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome of the hand and affected fingers, finding no competent medical evidence to link his current condition to service.

The Board found no additional disability resulting from VA treatment and denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including total right hip replacement with history of arthritic changes and trauma, arthritis changes of the left hip with limitation of abduction due to trauma, residuals of fracture and dislocation of right hand, and residuals of fracture of the left wrist with degenerative changes, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining any gainful employment consistent with his education and previous work experience.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy/carpal tunnel syndrome, a low back disorder, and bilateral knee disorder. The claim for bilateral foot disorder was not well grounded as it was not related to any other condition already granted.

The veteran's request to reschedule his hearing has been granted, and he is scheduled for a new videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after necessary action on this hearing.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the rating decisions dated January 16, 1945, January 25, 1947, January 29, 1948 and August 12, 1960. The veteran's service-connected right wrist disability was rated at a combined 20 percent since December 30, 1944.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for testicular disability, a rating in excess of 10 percent for left wrist disability, and a compensable evaluation for residuals of shell fragment wound of the perineum with retained foreign body. The reasons were that the medical evidence did not support these claims.

The VA determined that the veteran no longer has a current disability level for carpal tunnel syndrome of her right wrist, and thus denied restoration of her previous rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for restoration of service connection for left ear hearing loss, increased evaluation for right ear hearing loss, propriety of initial 30% evaluation for right hand weakness, evaluation for right knee hyperextension with instability and arthralgia, and increased rating for right leg incoordination (femoral nerve paralysis). The veteran's claims were not granted as the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board denied service connection for muscle spasms of the right eye and carpal tunnel syndrome, but granted reopening of a claim for migraine headaches. The veteran's increased rating request for his right knee disability was denied, as were his requests for an earlier effective date.