Wrist & hand decisions — 2005

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain service medical records and verify the veteran's reserve service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tendonitis of the left wrist is related to his military service.,There is no current diagnosis or evidence of bronchitis in the record.

The Board found that the overpayment of compensation benefits was properly created due to the veteran's receipt of active service pay while on active duty, and thus denied the appeal.

The veteran's scar residuals, right wrist, were found to not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under either the old or new VA rating criteria.

The veteran is seeking service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome. The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist disability, low back disability, and right hip disability. The veteran's claims were not supported by competent evidence linking the disabilities to her military service.

The VA examiner found no evidence of a direct link between the veteran's current neurological disabilities and the incidents in 1995, thus denying compensation for both conditions.,There is insufficient medical evidence to support the veteran's claims that his neurological disabilities are related to the blood pressure cuff incident or the IV site infection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a disability of the left wrist, finding that there was no current diagnosis or treatment of such condition and noting that the veteran had not provided any post-service medical evidence to support his claim.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left wrist, currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a fracture of the right fourth metacarpal, severe migraine headaches, gastrointestinal disorder, multiple joint pain, and anxiety, stress, sleep disturbance and fatigue due to an undiagnosed illness were all denied. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and PTSD were granted, with the right hand rated at 50% disabling, left hand at 20%, and PTSD at 30%. A TDIU was granted effective March 4, 1999. The decision also addressed higher ratings for his hands.

The veteran's left wrist disability is manifested by pain with repetitive movement, warranting an initial evaluation of 20 percent.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, as evidenced by his inability to dress himself, hold objects, walk without a cane, and feed himself. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on this need.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment, and he is therefore denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's right wrist tremors were rated at 20 percent prior to November 1, 2001 and a compensable rating (20 percent) was assigned on and after that date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right wrist disability warrants a 10 percent evaluation, his multiple surgical scars warrant a separate compensable rating of 10 percent, and service connection for MS is granted. The issues regarding new and material evidence to reopen the claim for MS are addressed.

The Board denied service connection for health care under Chapter 17 for a right wrist injury, foot disorder, hypertension, and low back injury due to the appellant's discharge from service being a result of willful and persistent misconduct.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of either wrist or hand, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's left wrist disability, finding that a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to November 21, 2000 and a rating in excess of 30 percent after February 1, 2001 was not warranted.