Wrist & hand decisions — 2004

The Board found that the appellant's preexisting thyroid disorder was not aggravated by her military service and denied her claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right wrist fracture residuals and right carpal tunnel syndrome.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings have been granted, with a rating of 10 percent assigned for degenerative joint disease of the left ankle and residuals of an excision of a right thigh cyst. The other claims remain denied.

The veteran's ganglion cyst on the right wrist is rated at 10 percent, and his chondromalacia of the right knee is rated at 20 percent. The PTSD claim remains unchanged with a rating of 30 percent.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a right arm disability that he claims is secondary to his service-connected left arm disability. The VA has requested additional evidence and will conduct further examination to determine the etiology of the claimed condition.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected residual scar from excision of a ganglion cyst of the right wrist, finding that it is manifested by tenderness and pain as well as diminished sensibility and slightly decreased pinprick around the scar. The arthritis in the wrist was not found to be causally related to the service-connected disability.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected right wrist, left elbow, and left pelvic fractures have been denied. The RO has assigned the highest possible rating of 10 percent for each condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected hammertoe, right wrist fracture, and right index finger fracture due to lack of evidence showing marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.

The Board found no evidence of a current right or left wrist disability that is etiologically related to service. The veteran's claimed wrist disabilities are not considered service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left wrist scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for a left wrist ganglion cyst and the denial of a 10 percent rating for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. � 3.324.

The veteran's left wrist disorder, characterized by chronic pain and limited motion, was granted a 20% evaluation effective January 13, 1998. The evaluation remains at 20% for the period beginning February 1, 1998.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been denied. The RO has not provided a compensable evaluation for hepatitis-B or right-sided carpal tunnel syndrome.

The veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand was initially rated at 10 percent prior to June 4, 2002. Beginning from that date, it is now rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and special monthly pension based on aid and attendance/housebound status. The claim for service connection was denied due to lack of new and material evidence, while the claim for special monthly pension was denied as the veteran did not meet the criteria for either aid and attendance or housebound status.

The veteran's residuals of a left wrist fracture were increased to 10 percent effective September 16, 2003.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for back, left knee, and right knee disorders. The veteran's conditions are related to his inservice motor vehicle accidents.

The Board has determined that there is no current disability involving either carpal tunnel syndrome or a bilateral hand disorder, and thus the appellant does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's current right wrist disorder began during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, and left hand arthritis. However, these issues are REMANDED to allow for additional development.