Wrist & hand decisions — 2003

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and issuance of a statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any current disabilities related to her service, including residuals of a back injury, ulcers, a bilateral foot disability, residuals of a left hand injury, or carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for right wrist and hand arthritis due to new evidence submitted since the final denial in December 1975. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted while others are not.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating, finding that the veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable. The issue of an increased rating for lumbar stenosis with bulging disc is remanded due to additional evidence received since the June 2002 Statement of the Case.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting left wrist conditions were aggravated by her October 1999 injury during inactive duty training, and granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete notification and development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000. The veteran's claims for service connection are being reviewed.

The Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for the service-connected left wrist disability and a separate 40 percent rating for the right ring finger disability, both based on functional loss due to pain. The diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy associated with herbicide exposure was also rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for her service-connected residuals of a distal radial fracture of the right wrist, finding that there was no evidence of compensable limitation of motion or arthritis.

The Board found that the veteran's ganglion cyst of the right wrist, while causing some discomfort, did not warrant a higher disability rating as it was manifested by mild degeneration in the triangular fibrocartilage with no evidence of a tear or arthritis.

The Board found no evidence of a current wrist or knee disability that is service-connected, and denied the veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the claims for increased evaluations of keloid scars on the left hand and wrist, as well as residuals of a fourth metacarpal fracture of the left hand, have been denied.

The VA determined that the veteran's right wrist injury with degenerative changes warrants a rating of 20 percent, which is the maximum available under current criteria.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for right wrist disability, which is considered a direct connection to his combat service in World War II. The veteran's condition was related to an injury sustained during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right wrist injury and residuals of a right elbow injury, finding that these conditions were not incurred in or related to active military duty.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected fractured right wrist is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations.

The Board has granted initial compensable ratings of 10 percent for retropatellar pain syndrome, right knee, and right wrist tendonitis since their effective dates.

The Board is unable to determine the exact nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed left hand/wrist disability due to lack of information on treatment dates. The case will be remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural defects and a need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability for the claimed bilateral shoulder, right upper arm, and left wrist conditions. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left wrist condition is due to his initial injury during service and grants service connection for the residuals of a left wrist fracture.