Wrist & hand decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and special monthly compensation, as well as his claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability of the left eye. The appeals were based on service-connected conditions including left wrist ankylosis and degenerative joint disease of the left elbow.

The VA has denied the veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for his service-connected post-traumatic left long thoracic neuropathy, internal derangement of the left shoulder, and residuals of post-traumatic synovitis with carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist.

The veteran's initial claim for higher evaluation of post-traumatic headaches was denied, but his effective date for service connection of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was granted as August 29, 1996.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a hand disability due to disease or injury which was incurred in or aggravated by service, and arthritis of the hands is not presumed to be related to service. The veteran also does not have carpal tunnel syndrome due to disease or injury which was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-operative right carpal tunnel syndrome residuals were not incurred or aggravated by wartime service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has reviewed the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions and finds that there is no competent or probative evidence linking any of these conditions to his military service, including alleged receipt of an anthrax vaccine. As such, the veteran's claims are denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional right wrist and hand disability as a result of VA hospitalization or medical or surgical treatment from September 1949 to March 1950, but the claim is still denied on its merits.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right knee disability is rated as 30 percent disabling, with a separate 10 percent rating for arthritis. The dermatological disorder is rated as noncompensably disabling.

The veteran's left forearm joint pain is presumed to have been incurred as a result of his active service in the Gulf War, and he was granted presumptive service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability, but denied claims for left knee injury, left ankle disability, residuals of a right hand injury, and carpal tunnel syndrome in the hands. The veteran's current disabilities are not considered to be related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current left shoulder disorder and denied his claim for service connection. The initial rating for residuals of a left wrist fracture was also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cerebral spinal fluid leakage, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, and allergic rhinitis/chronic sinusitis. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for disc protrusion L5-S1 with scoliosis is also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a scaphoid fracture of the right wrist do not warrant an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected right wrist disability, characterized by post traumatic osteoarthritis, does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations and pension based on his left wrist ganglion cyst removal residuals, as well as his right wrist service connection claim. The RO found that there was no objective clinical evidence of any neurologic deficit or sensory abnormality related to the left wrist surgery.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for throat obstruction and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as rating decisions for various conditions. The case is pending further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, rheumatoid arthritis, right wrist disability, and cervical spine disability due to lack of verified in-service stressors and other supporting evidence.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of the issues on appeal.

The VA determined that the veteran's right wrist scar residuals do not warrant a rating higher than the current 10 percent evaluation.