Wrist & hand decisions — 2003

The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for the appellant's right wrist disability effective from January 1, 2000.

The veteran's initial claims for service connection for a ganglion cyst of the right wrist and plantar fasciitis of the left foot were granted. However, his appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for the ganglion cyst of the right wrist was denied as there is no functional loss associated with this disability. For the plantar fasciitis of the left foot, he received a 10 percent evaluation initially and later received a 20 percent evaluation starting from July 26, 1999.

The Board has determined that the appellant's left wrist fracture existed prior to his service and did not worsen during active duty for training. Therefore, he is denied service connection for residuals of a left wrist fracture.

The Board denied claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right knee, elbow, wrist, back of the head, neck, and shoulders. The veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to his military service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant and his legal guardian have withdrawn their appeal.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's left wrist and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for the service-connected residuals of a fracture of the left wrist, finding that there is limitation of motion and complaints of pain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral wrist condition and an increased rating for her scar of the left shoulder. The veteran did not have a current diagnosis of a wrist or hand disability, and the VA examination found no underlying medical condition that would support such a claim. For the scar of the left shoulder, the Board noted that the highest possible evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes was already assigned.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left and right wrist disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as they are manifested by slight to moderate limitation of motion with pain on overuse.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating from October 1, 1991 to June 12, 2002 and did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent from June 13, 2002. The veteran's service-connected left carpal tunnel syndrome, postoperative, and pes cavus were also found to not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his right wrist disability, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and lumbosacral strain have been granted. He is now rated at 20 percent for each of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right wrist fracture and a right shoulder residual scar with a retained foreign body, finding that new and material evidence supports these claims. The disabilities are considered to be related to injuries sustained during active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right wrist and elbow disabilities were not incurred or aggravated in service, nor are they related to any incident of service. The VA examinations have shown no chronic disability attributable to these conditions during or after service.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities were evaluated based on the criteria provided in the rating schedule for musculoskeletal system disorders. His left wrist strain residuals including tendonitis are currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and his right wrist tendonitis is also rated as 10 percent disabling. The other conditions have been appropriately evaluated.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's left wrist disorder, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for any of the conditions he is seeking service connection for, and therefore, his claims are denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disorder, right and left wrist median nerve compression, fibromyalgia, and folliculitis were denied. The Board found no current evidence of these conditions during or after service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The medical complications surrounding his death were reasonably foreseeable at the time of his death.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for right wrist impairment, which was previously denied in June 1995. The veteran now has a history of right wrist pain and degenerative changes.