Wrist & hand decisions — 2004

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome and patellofemoral syndromes were denied. The RO found that the symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any chronic disabilities of the right leg, knee, middle finger, nose, wrist, shoulder, or great toe that are service-connected. The back disability is also denied.

The veteran's left wrist disability is rated at 10 percent, effective April 1998. Service connection for headaches was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for multiple joint pains involving shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, and ankle joints due to an undiagnosed illness and for increased rating for hypertensive heart disease. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection based on presumptive exposure to Gulf War operations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding no competent evidence of these conditions. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30% for bipolar disorder remains pending.

The Board found that the veteran's residuals of a right wrist fracture are manifested by some limitation of motion, but without ankylosis, and limitation of forearm supination no worse than 30 degrees or less. The RO denied an increase in a 10 percent rating for residuals of a right wrist fracture.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have PTSD, a low back disability, a cervical spinal disability, bilateral eye disability, or skin rash. The right ankle and left knee disabilities are also denied as service connection is already granted for these conditions under another theory of service connection. The joint pain in hands, right wrist, and right shoulder, along with generalized muscle aches, have been previously granted service connection.

The veteran's service-connected tendonitis of the wrists and ankles have been rated as noncompensable, with no compensable rating assigned for headaches.,Both tendonitis conditions are rated based on limitation of motion under Diagnostic Code 5024.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to determine if carpal tunnel syndrome and sciatic nerve disorder are secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of a left wrist fracture are currently rated as 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on his current symptomatology.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative joint disease of the left wrist, finding that there was no current disability meeting VA compensation criteria for either condition.

The Board found no evidence of a current left wrist disability and denied the veteran's claim for service connection. The VA examiner concluded that the veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are likely related to her military service, but there is insufficient medical evidence to establish service connection.

The veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist injury residuals is being remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 30 percent for residuals of a right wrist injury, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's neuropathy in the hands and wrists is etiologically related to his service-connected cervical spine disability, warranting a grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the appellant for VA examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected right and left wrist disabilities.

The VA determined that there is no evidence linking the veteran's C-6 radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his heart disease and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The VA denied initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's right and left hand shell fragment wound scars with posttraumatic degenerative joint disease of the wrist, finding that his conditions did not warrant such higher ratings based on the current evidence.