Wrist & hand decisions — 2005

The Board has granted higher initial evaluations of 30 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist and 20 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, effective from December 18, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and for compensable ratings for residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right forearm and multiple superficial retained shell fragments, involving the skull, eyes, knees, thoracic spine, and left arm and wrist.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a bilateral elbow disorder or bilateral wrist disorder, and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for RSD and CTS of the right upper extremity from September 10, 1996 to March 13, 2002, with a 10 percent rating effective from March 14, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than April 22, 2002 for the grant of service connection for left scaphoid fracture and left wrist disability.,The Board also denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than April 22, 2002 for the grant of service connection for left wrist disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining the veteran's National Guard service medical records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to determine if his current right knee and left wrist conditions are related to in-service injuries.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date are being remanded due to incomplete development of records.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple joint pain and degenerative joint disease of both knees, finding that the veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The decision is based on new evidence provided by the veteran.

The Board finds that the veteran's residuals of a right ankle fracture had their origins during service and grants service connection for this condition. The other issues on appeal are denied as they do not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The RO has granted increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees, each rated at 10 percent.,However, no increase was granted for arthritis of the wrists or lumbosacral spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral flat feet, bilateral hand condition, and bilateral wrist condition. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis of multiple joints to include the spine, shoulders, hips, ankles, and wrists, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected trapezitis of the left side of the back. The Board found that the veteran's arthritis was not present during service or for many years later and is not causally related to an incident of service or to his service-connected trapezitis.

The veteran's service-connected knee and ankle disabilities have been rated based on their current manifestations. The wrist disabilities are also considered, but the mixed nature of the issues means some conditions may warrant higher ratings while others do not.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and right carpal tunnel syndrome, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the former denial. The claim for an increased rating for low back strain was referred to the RO.

The veteran's service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left wrists has been evaluated at the maximum schedular ratings available under the appropriate diagnostic codes for both periods in question.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the veteran's current disorders of wrists, elbows, and shoulders are not related to his service-connected knee/hip/back disabilities. The claims for direct service connection were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and earlier effective dates for her service-connected right knee disorder, ganglion cyst of the left wrist, and left middle finger disorder. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was not addressed as it is a separate issue.

The veteran is service-connected for dysthymia with anxiety, asthmatic bronchitis, and a right wrist disorder. He was found unable to obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions. The effective date for the TDIU rating has been established as August 24, 1998.

The veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation benefits was denied as he did not cooperate with the program and decided to enroll in training instead of seeking employment.