Wrist & hand decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right forearm and left wrist shell fragment wound scars, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, are denied. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for the service-connected right wrist fracture with internal fixation prior to February 7, 2002. The veteran's current evaluation of 40 percent is maintained.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic low back disorder. The veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, skin disorder, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, and bilateral wrist disorder are not currently addressed as they were the subject of a separate remand.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's back disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The status of service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and right hand/arm disabilities remains unknown.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the etiology of the veteran's right shoulder disorder, which may be related to his service-connected disabilities. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case is now being sent back to the RO for obtaining medical records from the VA Medical Center in Little Rock.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including the need to address service connection for back disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence and clarification. The case is now being remanded back to the RO for specific actions, including obtaining clinical records from Camp Lejeune and scheduling a VA orthopedic examination.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, hypertension, bilateral knee disability, and right wrist disorder. They also found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen claims of service connection for low back and left wrist disabilities.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence and clarification. The case is now being remanded to the RO for a review of the claims file, including seeking opinions from an examiner regarding the relationship between hypertension and service-connected right wrist disability.

The Board found no evidence of additional disability resulting from VA treatment, and thus denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. 1151.

The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right wrist injury and right ankle injury are granted, but the etiology is unresolved. The claim for increased evaluation for residuals of a stress fracture of the left hip remains denied.

The Board found that the reduction of a 30 percent rating to a 20 percent evaluation for the service-connected residuals of a fracture of the right distal radius with radial tunnel syndrome and ulnar-sided wrist pain, effective from March 1, 2000, was not warranted. The veteran's disability is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than what was currently assigned.

The Board denied a higher rating for the veteran's service-connected right wrist fracture, finding that his condition only warrants a 10% disability rating due to mild limitation of motion.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current back or wrist and hand conditions to service, including any incidents of harassment. The claims for service connection were denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO found that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of his disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right hand and found that it is directly related to a service-connected injury. The veteran's PTSD claim remains pending, as does his request for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for arthritis of the right wrist.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right wrist disability due to new and material evidence received since the October 1999 rating decision. The effective date will be determined as if the October 1999 rating decision had not been rendered.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right wrist disability and neurological residuals of a fracture of the right radius, finding that the current evaluations were appropriate based on the evidence of record.