Wrist & hand decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected right wrist disability, finding no evidence to support a higher rating.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of arthritis or bursitis in his right knee and wrist, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the left ankle, bilateral shoulders, knees, hands, wrists, elbows, feet, hips, and lumbar spine. The veteran's arthritis was not found to have originated during or within one year after his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected right wrist and hand disability, as well as compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for pain in the low back, right hip, leg, and groin resulting from surgery performed at a VA medical center in February 2000.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hand and wrist disorder, but denied service connection for a left hand and wrist disorder. The veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine and lumbar disc disabilities are remanded for further development.

The veteran's reactive airway disease is rated at 30 percent, and he has been granted service connection for a small patent foramen ovale. Other claims of service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral wrist disorder and residuals of a right ankle injury are service-connected. The claim for an initial compensable rating for residuals of left ankle injury is denied.

The veteran is seeking a higher evaluation for his service-connected left wrist disability, which has worsened since the last examination in December 2003. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and schedule the veteran for an additional VA joints examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating of his right wrist disability and did not reopen his previously denied claim for service connection of a back disability. The evidence received since the last denial was found to be either cumulative or redundant.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current right wrist condition and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board granted increased ratings of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, residuals of right knee surgery with insufficient ligament, and residuals of right wrist injury with surgery and arthritic change.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left hand and wrist is currently rated at 10 percent, while his right first carpal metacarpal joint and wrist condition is also rated at 10 percent. The claims for higher ratings for the knees remain pending.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral foot disorders, and residuals of a left hip replacement for accrued benefits purposes due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were related to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right knee disability and remanded it to the RO. The veteran's left knee disability, arthritis, and total knee replacement are rated at 30 percent disabling since March 12, 1998. His right wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left carpal tunnel syndromes were not incurred in or aggravated by active duty, and are not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and determination of his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for wrist and arm pain or impairment, dizziness, double vision, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, and emphysema, esophageal achalasia, and status post removal of a polyp from the vocal cords, all claimed as due to mustard gas exposure. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee, right ankle, and cervical spine disabilities. The claim of service connection for a right wrist injury was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA examinations to assess the current severity of the veteran's service-connected conditions and determining whether TDIU is warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left wrist injury was incurred in active service and granted service connection for postoperative residuals of a left wrist.