Wrist & hand decisions — 2005

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left ankle, stomach, and low back disabilities. The examiner found no current diagnoses or etiology that supported these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation training due to his current employment and lack of an employment handicap despite having service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity was granted service connection due to its manifestation within one year of separation from active duty. The left upper extremity condition, however, did not manifest during service or within a year thereafter and is presumed to be related to her allergic reaction to medication taken in service.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability, and a 10 percent evaluation for his service-connected right wrist disability.

The VA determined that the veteran's right wrist and hand arthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's October 2000 substantive appeal to the June 19, 1999 rating decision was timely filed. The Board also found that the veteran did not submit a timely substantive appeal of the January 3, 1996 rating decision; thus, the Board does not have jurisdiction to consider an appeal stemming from that rating decision.

The Board found no probative medical evidence linking the veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome to his period of active military service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's lumbar strain and right wrist disorder have been evaluated at the 10 percent level, with no higher evaluations granted. The right great toe disorder has received a compensable evaluation.,Service connection for bronchitis was not established.

The Board denied the veteran's claim, finding that the purchase of 'medical marijuana' cannot be recognized as a deductible medical expense for purposes of qualification for VA nonservice-connected pension benefits due to federal law prohibiting its use.

The Board found that the veteran's left wrist disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection.

The VA has determined that the veteran's laceration scar of the left wrist does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under current VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected gunshot wound to the left wrist and associated neurological dysfunction, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current disability levels.

The veteran's claims of service connection for ulcers, gunshot wounds to the right forearm and wrist, gunshot wounds to the right thigh, hypertension, and a status post cerebrovascular accident have been denied. The veteran is currently rated at 70% for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for anxiety neurosis, TDIU, and secondary service connection for right CTS. The evidence did not support a higher rating for anxiety neurosis or unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities alone.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a disability in service or within one year following service, and the Board found that any current disabilities are not related to service.

The veteran's application for nonservice-connected pension benefits was granted as of June 18, 2002. The effective date cannot be earlier than this date due to the criteria for permanent and total disability not being met prior to that time.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for traumatic arthritis of the right wrist status post scaphoid fracture.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of left wrist tendon repair warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, but not higher.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to establish carpal tunnel syndrome as a result of service, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for carpal tunnel syndrome was granted, and he is now rated at 50 percent effective July 10, 2002. Service connection for GERD, degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine, and low back disorder were also granted.