Wrist & hand decisions — 2005

The Board has granted a 10% evaluation for right wrist tendonitis effective June 21, 2005. The veteran's condition was previously rated as noncompensable from June 3, 2002 to June 20, 2005.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected post-operative residuals of a ganglion cyst of the left wrist do not warrant an evaluation greater than 10 percent.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to higher initial ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) of the right wrist, CTS of the left wrist, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no competent medical evidence to support a current disability or etiology related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder, right shoulder, and right wrist disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing that he met the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee condition, bilateral wrist condition, and a back condition.,There is no evidence linking the appellant's current conditions to her military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left wrist and trigger-finger deformity of the left middle, ring, and little fingers as these conditions are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left shoulder disorder.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a fractured right wrist and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist have been denied. The current evaluations are considered appropriate.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, left hand disorder, bilateral wrist disorder, and chronic right ear otitis media/externa. The veteran's claims are not supported by the medical evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a fractured left wrist do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left wrist disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The veteran's initial ratings for allergic rhinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left hands have been denied. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records, conduct further examinations, and consider the claims again.

The Board found that the veteran's low back strain and ganglion cyst of the left wrist do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's schedular guidelines.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was not manifested during service or for many years thereafter, and is not shown to be related to his active service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is denied.

The veteran's bilateral knee disability, left shoulder disability, and CTS were all found to be related to his military service. The initial rating of 10 percent for low back disability from October 31, 1996, to April 9, 2001, is maintained.

The Board found that the veteran's current diagnosed bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was not incurred in or related to service, and thus denied his claim.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his right wrist disability, as it did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 30 percent.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The Board found that the appellant does not have migraine headaches or a wrist disorder attributable to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her service-connected right knee and left wrist disabilities have been denied. The current ratings are deemed appropriate.