Wrist & hand decisions — 2006

The Board found that the veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome was not incurred in or aggravated by her military service and denied her claim for service connection.

The veteran's application for non-service-connected disability pension benefits is being remanded due to uncertainty regarding the length of his active duty service. The issue of service connection for a fracture of the left wrist remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the etiology of the veteran's left knee disability and right knee disability.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability resulting from an injury or disease during service, nor any competent medical evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current bilateral wrist disability and denied his claim of service connection for a bilateral wrist condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to her failure to report for a scheduled hearing. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disorder, headaches, and increased ratings for left wrist arthritis and residuals of a left wrist fracture with median nerve palsy. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his duodenal ulcer, left wrist fracture, and residuals of stab wounds. The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for tinea pedis, right wrist synovitis, and left wrist synovitis as they did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist was granted service connection. For his degenerative disc disease at C5-6 with arthritic involvement, he is entitled to a rating of 10 percent from April 6, 2001, to January 24, 2005, and in excess of 10 percent on and after January 25, 2005.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing. The issues of severance of service connection for left ear hearing loss and entitlement to service connection for right hand carpal tunnel syndrome are pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing lumbar spine disability was aggravated during his period of active duty, warranting service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left elbow epicondylitis, right shoulder impingement, right wrist degenerative joint disease, and left wrist strain are related to injuries sustained during active duty for training. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to missing records and the need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of left wrist disorder, right ankle disorder, or otitis media. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various hand and shoulder disabilities, finding no medical evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The VA has granted increased evaluations for carpal tunnel syndrome with residuals of a fracture in both wrists, currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's back strain with mechanical low back pain was initially evaluated as noncompensable prior to January 31, 2004. As of that date, a 10% evaluation is granted.,From May 18, 2002 to January 30, 2004, the veteran's history of excision of cyst of the left wrist was evaluated as noncompensable. A 10% evaluation is granted as of January 31, 2004.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome, a back disorder, and a bilateral foot disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for nonservice-connected pension benefits, service connection for the cause of her husband's death, and accrued benefits due to a lack of legal basis for these claims based on the veteran's service. The appeal is dismissed.