Wrist & hand decisions — 2005

The Board denied service connection for anxiety/depression, hypertension, spinal cord injury, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome as the evidence did not support a causal relationship to military service.

The Board has determined that there is no current disability manifested by shin splints or carpal tunnel syndrome, and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation and earlier effective date for a 10 percent evaluation for residuals of excision of ganglion cyst of the left wrist was granted. The effective date is set at July 1, 2004.

The veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of her service-connected right wrist disability remains before the Board. The case is being remanded to obtain clarification from the September 2004 VA examiner and to consider the revised rating criteria for skin disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected arthritis of the right and left wrists are currently rated at 10 percent, but there is no evidence to support an evaluation in excess of this rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee and right shoulder disabilities, as well as his tinnitus, are service-connected. However, there is no evidence of a current heart disability or bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, tinea pedis and cruris, a skin rash of the neck, chest, and arms, knots of the groin and arm pits, and ganglion cysts of bilateral wrists. The claims were not supported by medical evidence or credible supporting evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's increased rating claims for his left wrist fracture, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board found that the veteran's left wrist condition, characterized as a dislocated fracture of the radio-carpal joint, pre-existed service and was not aggravated during service. Therefore, service connection for this disability is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a ganglion cyst of the left wrist, and for initial evaluations higher than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with arthritis and noncompensable for dyshidrotic eczema of the hands.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, post-traumatic headaches, hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of multiple shell fragment wounds (SFWs), carpal tunnel syndrome, and hepatitis C. The denial was based on a lack of credible evidence to support these conditions as being related to service.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and thus denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right wrist disability does not warrant a higher evaluation, as it does not meet the criteria for ankylosis or other conditions that would allow for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his upper extremity and wrist disorders, render him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that his current diagnosis is related to his active military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, a pulmonary disorder manifested by linear opacities in the left retro-cardiac region, urinary urge incontinency (previously claimed as urinary frequency), and hiatal hernia, esophageal suppression and excessive belching.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed neck, cervical spine, and low back disability including arthritis, as well as his right hand and wrist injury residuals, and arm and leg weakness, are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the veteran's representative and an inadequate examination report. The veteran needs a new examination to determine if his current right wrist disability is related to service activities involving slamming jet access doors shut.

The veteran's claimed cardiac disability, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension are not found to be related to his active service or to a service-connected condition. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service medical records and outstanding VA outpatient medical records.