Wrist & hand decisions — 2003

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and procedural issues, requiring further examination and evidence collection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. His bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent, and his left wrist fracture from December 8, 2000 to January 31, 2001 warranted a 20 percent rating. However, the claim for a higher rating after May 1, 2001 was denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his right wrist disorder, finding that it does not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's disabilities do not render him permanently and totally disabled for pension purposes, as they are rated at less than 100% combined.

The Board denied an increased rating for service-connected residuals of fractures of both wrists, prior to March 2002, as the evidence did not show dorsiflexion limited to less than 15 degrees or palmar flexion limited in line with the forearm.

The Board has granted initial non-compensable evaluations for the veteran's service-connected post-operative carpal tunnel release of both wrists, effective January 8, 2003.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have service connection for hearing loss, right ankle injury, right wrist sprain, tinnitus, left knee chondromalacia, serous otitis media, or cyst of the right testicle. The evaluation for lumbosacral strain is 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist disorder in June 1997, finding that the evidence did not show a present disorder was related to service. The veteran's claim has been reopened with new evidence submitted since then, but this evidence does not meet the criteria of being 'new and material' as it is cumulative or redundant.

The veteran's appeal was denied for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals, left wrist fracture. Service connection for PTSD and a gunshot wound to the chest were also denied. The claim to reopen service connection for head injury, right ankle disorder, and back disorder was not granted due to lack of new and material evidence.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left wrist disability, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right wrist injury and back injury are not related to service, with the exception of a secondary relationship for the right wrist injury. The claims have been denied.

The Board found no current right wrist, Achilles tendonitis, or PTSD disabilities and denied the veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected right wrist condition does not warrant a compensable rating. For his claim of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, the evidence did not establish chronicity during service and continuity after discharge, leading to denial.

The veteran's service-connected ulnar nerve entrapment of the right elbow is rated as noncompensably disabling prior to August 30, 2001, and 10 percent disabling from that date. The veteran's service-connected status post carpal tunnel release is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.