Wrist & hand decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral shin splints and joint pain of the left wrist and knees are due to disease or injury incurred in service.

The Board found that the veteran's right hand and wrist injury during service was acute and transitory, resolving without chronic disability. The medical treatment provided by VA did not cause or worsen any of his claimed disorders involving his wrist, neck, low back, leg numbness, peripheral neuropathy, or impotence.

The Board denied the veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the appellant's left wrist disability pre-existed his active military service and did not increase in severity during service. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome originated during his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding no evidence of a relationship to any period of active service.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected shell fragment wound of the left wrist and forearm, but granted a separate 10 percent rating for scars. The May 1971 rating decision was not reversed or amended on CUE grounds. An effective date earlier than November 19, 1999, for the scar rating is also denied.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for a scar of the right hand claimed as a shrapnel wound was dismissed because it had already been granted in a prior decision.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for traumatic arthritis of the right wrist as a residual of an injury, effective from the date of this decision. The other issues remain unresolved.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and his superficial metal foreign body wound of the back of the neck warrants a compensable evaluation. The left shoulder shell fragment wound and metallic foreign body wound of the volar surface of the left wrist do not warrant compensable evaluations. The shrapnel wound scar of the scrotum is also rated at 70 percent.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and an increased rating for residuals of nerve root compression at C5-C6 and C6-C7 with degenerative disc disease and involvement of the left upper extremity, prior to September 23, 2002. The appeal is based on new evidence that reopened a previously denied claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left wrist fracture residuals meet the criteria for a 20 percent evaluation.

The medical evidence shows that the veteran is able to feed, dress, bathe, and clothe himself, does not need assistance on a regular basis in protecting himself from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment, and is able to care for 'the wants of nature'. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for higher level of special monthly compensation based on the need for the aid and attendance of another person.

The Board denied service connection for dental trauma, left eye macular degeneration, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and bilateral knee disorder. The veteran's psoriatic arthritis was also not granted as service-connected.

The Board denied an increased rating for arthritis of the left wrist, currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran is presumed to be totally disabled (due to permanent disability) for VA pension purposes, and the claim of a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes is granted.

The Board has granted a noncompensable evaluation for the veteran's service-connected right ankle disability and a 10 percent evaluation for his service-connected right wrist tendonitis.

The Board found that the veteran's right wrist and elbow disability is not due to fault on the part of VA, thus denying his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected low back disorder, effective from January 6, 2003. The right hip and wrist disorders are not service connected.

The Board found that the veteran's current left hand and wrist disabilities are not related to his military service, specifically the March 1997 injury during active duty for training.