Wrist & hand decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim, but denied service connection on a de novo basis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right wrist disorder is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, hypertension (secondary to diabetes mellitus), arthritis of the right hand, arthritis of the left hand, and disabilities of the wrists and shoulders. The decision also addressed claims for a disability of the left elbow but found no evidence supporting this claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, finding that none were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for right carpal tunnel syndrome with degenerative arthritic changes and left wrist strain with degenerative arthritic changes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his scars on the right wrist and left heel, finding that he was already receiving the maximum available rating under both old and new VA criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and right ankle disabilities, as well as service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The denial was based on lack of evidence linking current diagnoses to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic low back disorder and residuals of a left wrist fracture, finding that no new and material evidence had been received to reopen his claim for infectious hepatitis.

The veteran is seeking service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand. The Board has determined that a VA examination and additional development are needed to properly adjudicate this claim.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service connection claims due to incomplete service medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and severity of the veteran's conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome of both wrists, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected ulcerative colitis and its complications.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the current severity of the veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for separate disability ratings for left upper and lower extremity residuals of a closed head injury, as well as an increased rating for right femoral fracture with knee and hip pain due to his failure to report for scheduled VA physical examinations.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to procedural and evidentiary development needs.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for right knee, back, and ulnar neuropathy of the right wrist and arm disabilities secondary to a left knee disability. However, the decision on whether these conditions are service-connected remains pending.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand, and TDIU was denied. The Board found that there is no medical evidence establishing a nexus between military service and current complaints.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete notice provided to the veteran.