Wrist & hand decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right wrist and left shoulder trapezius strain disabilities are not related to her military service.

The veteran withdrew his appeals of the claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury, residuals of a left hand injury, and residuals of a right wrist injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right wrist issues are related to his service, specifically an injury during active duty. The appeal is granted.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for gout and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, left shoulder, both wrists, and both ankles as they are aggravated by a service-connected kidney disease.

The veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, degenerative arthritis of the shoulders, cervical spine, elbows, wrists, hands, hips, knees and ankles, hypertension, and arteriosclerotic heart disease are all denied as these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his active military service.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left wrist fracture. The reopened claim is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision below.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a crush injury to the left wrist and left hand, finding no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left wrist. The veteran's claim is being remanded to ensure proper notification and development regarding his other claims.

The veteran's claims for increased PTSD, reopening a right wrist injury claim, and service connection for various conditions were denied. The denial of the PTSD claim is due to failure to meet the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent. The denial of the right wrist injury claim is due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection was not granted for asthma, digestive disorder, broken finger (right or left), patellofemoral arthritis, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, prostatitis, skin disorders, or lung disorders.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various orthopedic, respiratory, and cardiovascular disabilities. The right wrist disability was not related to military service, nor were the low back or bilateral knee disabilities. The bilateral foot disability (plantar warts) was linked to active duty. Hypertension was not shown to be related to military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a neurologic examination. The issues of increased ratings for the left wrist disability and PTSD are also being addressed.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected residuals of nose injury did not warrant a compensable rating, and her other claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence linking current diagnoses to active service or service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed disabilities, including back, left knee, right ankle, and right wrist disabilities. The service connection claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, a right wrist sprain with degenerative joint disease, and residuals of a cerebrovascular accident as secondary to service-connected residuals of a traumatic blast injury. The rating assigned for the right wrist sprain is 10 percent.

The Board granted a disability rating of 10 percent for the veteran's status postoperative ganglion cystectomy, left wrist (synovial) with minimal arthritic changes. The issue regarding a separate disability rating for a left wrist scar was not addressed as it may have been inferred from the evidence.

The veteran's service-connected status post Austin bunionectomy, left foot, is manifested by a painful scar and has been assigned a 10 percent evaluation. The Board also granted separate evaluations for the cysts on her wrists.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is related to his noise exposure during service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The right wrist injury claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or nexus to service.

The Board found that the veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current level of disability for his left wrist fracture and right ankle sprain.

The veteran's joint pain, including in the ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, and wrists, is found to be due to an undiagnosed illness related to her service in the Persian Gulf. Service connection for these conditions is granted.