Wrist & hand decisions — 2004

The veteran's claims for increased ratings have been granted, with the exception of his claim for a scar from an excision of a cyst on the right thigh. The other conditions and issues were all granted.

The VA has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected right wrist fracture, effective from the date of the decision.

The VA has denied the veteran's requests for increased disability ratings for his service-connected residuals of bilateral wrist fractures and carpal tunnel syndrome. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation based on current functional impairment.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues are dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has determined that there is no current medical evidence of a right wrist disorder, bilateral heel disorder, or right elbow bursitis. Therefore, the claims for service connection for these conditions have been denied.

The Board found no current diagnoses of the claimed conditions and thus denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, residuals of a recurrent ganglion cyst of the left wrist, and a respiratory disorder manifested by shortness of breath.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to a fractured right wrist sustained while playing basketball during drug rehabilitation at a VA medical facility.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is service-connected, and his PTSD is rated at 30 percent. The other issues are addressed in the remand portion of this decision.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the 10 percent rating assigned for fracture of the right wrist with degenerative joint disease. The case has been remanded to ensure proper VCAA compliance and additional development.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his employability and conducting VA examinations.

The Board found that the veteran's arthritis of the right knee, both hands, wrists, and cervical and lumbar spine is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 10 percent disabling.,Service connection for allergic reactions, memory loss, joint pain, headaches, skin rash, fatigue, and sexual dysfunction (attributed to PTSD) was denied.

The veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including a request for an extension of a temporary total post-surgical convalescent rating and higher ratings for various hand and wrist injuries. The claims are currently pending with the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have bursitis/tendonitis of the left shoulder or carpal tunnel syndrome, left wrist, related to service or his service-connected residuals gunshot wound to the right hand. Therefore, he is denied these claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and adjudication, including the consideration of her claims for increased ratings for service-connected disabilities and a TDIU. The RO must also obtain all relevant medical records and conduct a VA examination to assess the impact of her service-connected conditions on her employability.

The Board found that the veteran's current right wrist disorder, diagnosed as midcarpal arthritis, was incurred in service and granted service connection.

The Board found that there is no current evidence of carpal tunnel syndrome in the veteran's left wrist and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appeal is dismissed due to a lack of timely substantive appeal for the initial evaluation of acne vulgaris. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The veteran's service-connected left shoulder and wrist disabilities were evaluated, but the claims for increased evaluations were denied.

The veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, skull fragment injury residuals, right shoulder fragment injury residuals, right forearm fragment injury residuals, right wrist fragment injury residuals, and dizziness and headaches due to a grenade explosion are denied as the injuries were sustained due to his own willful misconduct.