Wrist & hand decisions — 2004

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral wrist condition, low back disorder, and right knee condition. The evidence does not support a causal relationship between these conditions and his period of active duty.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the M&ROC for clarification and initial consideration of his claims, including skin cancer which was not addressed in the previous rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for generalized joint pain of the shoulders and wrists due to an undiagnosed illness, finding that these conditions are related to service. The wrists issue is pending as there are no significant findings in the record.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The Board found no evidence of current bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and concluded that the veteran's wrist complaints during service were not related to his current condition.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and residuals of right shoulder injury are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claims for service connection are granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings were denied. The Board found that the veteran did not have current disabilities related to hives, wrist disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome, or a lumbar spine disorder. Service connection was also denied for chronic sinusitis and seasonal allergies and migraine headaches.

The veteran's combined nonservice-connected disability rating is 70%, which does not meet the threshold requirement for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for status post ganglion cyst excision of the left wrist and genital herpes, finding that these conditions were incurred during active duty.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating of her ganglion cyst residuals is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's right wrist disorder with scaphoid-lunate advanced collapse, and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to his use of medications. The claim to reopen the previously denied left foot disability was not successful.

The RO denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a ganglion cyst on her left wrist, crush injuries to her right middle finger, and skin disorders. The RO also denied claims for irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension, elevated blood glucose, and hearing loss.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder was denied. The issue of new and material evidence for cervical osteoarthritis and left shoulder disorder was granted, but the veteran's request for a compensable evaluation for his left wrist ganglion cyst was denied.,The veteran has not provided sufficient evidence to establish that his current conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his residual scar of the right wrist status post ganglion cyst removal, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for a compensable initial rating for scars, service connection for head injuries, migraine headaches, and dental trauma are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board denied service connection for elevated cholesterol as it does not represent a disability for which service connection may be granted.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral wrist disorder and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.