Wrist & hand decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome of both hands, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for either hand.

The Board found that the appellant did not suffer additional injury/disability as a result of VA surgery in June 1986, and thus denied his claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board found that the veteran's right wrist and hand disability is not related to his in-service injury or a service-connected condition, including his scar on the right elbow. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and thus denied all issues on appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for his left elbow tendinitis with history of recurrent epicondylitis and right wrist tendinitis, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his ability to walk and use assistive devices.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right wrist ganglion cyst and for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disorders. The evidence does not support the veteran's assertions that he currently suffers from these conditions as a result of his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for left knee injury and right wrist disability, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims.

The Board denied an initial compensable evaluation for the veteran's right wrist scaphoid fracture/distal radial fracture, finding that there was no evidence of limitation of motion or other functional impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for post poliomyelitis syndrome of the right leg and secondary service connection for lumbar stenosis syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist. The veteran's residuals of poliomyelitis of the right upper extremity are currently rated at 50 percent.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a left wrist fracture, skin rash, low back condition, sleep disorder, lung condition with shortness of breath, and rheumatoid arthritis. The veteran's claims were based on direct evidence rather than any presumption or secondary relationship to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claims for left hand arthritis, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, and a back disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has dismissed the appellant's claims due to his failure to respond and cooperate with VA, including failing to report for scheduled examinations.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a fractured left wrist due to lack of evidence of current disability, and the new evidence received does not provide such evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral defective hearing, a left wrist disability, a left shoulder disability with resection of the left distal clavicle, and meniscal degeneration of the left knee. The veteran's claims were not reopened as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's right wrist disability and did not address whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen a claim of service connection for hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including a first-degree atrioventricular block, defective vision, hip disability, bilateral arm and wrist disabilities, skin disability, and dental condition. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim of residuals of eye burns.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there was not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence to support the claim. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the service-connected right wrist fracture and the later development of carpal tunnel syndrome.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent effective June 15, 2000. His gunshot wound residuals of the right wrist have been rated at 10 percent.

The VA has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected right wrist disability, which includes a comminuted fracture and subsequent fusion with arthrodesis. The evidence does not support an evaluation higher than 10 percent.