Wrist & hand decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's disability, a left Colles fracture with limitation of motion of the left wrist, is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5215. The evidence does not support an increase in this rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability due to broken ribs or right wrist injury, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for any of the claimed disabilities, including left wrist disability, sinusitis, and nasopharyngitis. The veteran's claims are denied.

The veteran's right and left carpal tunnel syndromes have been rated based on their current severity. The cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity has resulted in a 40% evaluation since January 22, 1998, while the cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity has not met criteria for any disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or based upon housebound status is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination.

The veteran's service-connected thoracic outlet syndrome of the right shoulder warrants a 40 percent rating, but no higher. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and excision of the superficial peroneal nerve neuroma of the left ankle do not warrant compensable ratings. The veteran's post operative plantar fasciotomy of the left foot, carpal tunnel syndromes (right and left), and lumbar spine disorder are all rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran now has left shoulder bursitis, rotator cuff dysfunction, and tendonitis; left wrist DeQuervain's tendonitis; and bilateral foot metatarsalgia. These conditions are considered to be related to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as the evidence does not show that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased initial ratings for his right carpal tunnel syndrome and hypertension, finding no current diagnosis of left carpal tunnel syndrome and that the symptoms did not meet criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a fracture of the left wrist, finding that March 14, 2003 is the correct date of claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his bilateral wrist and little finger disabilities, finding that they did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected ganglion cyst to the left wrist was denied. The issue of asthma service connection is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the veteran's cervical degenerative joint and disc disease, effective from September 26, 2003. The ratings for lumbar degenerative joint and disc disease and left carpal tunnel syndrome remain at 20 percent and noncompensable respectively.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left hand and wrist with osteoarthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome was denied. The RO had previously granted separate ratings for these conditions, but did not combine them into one rating as requested by the veteran. As such, the issue remains in appellate status.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, low back, and psychiatric disabilities. The veteran's claims for left shoulder, wrist, knee, ankle, cervical spine, head injury residuals, and headache disabilities were also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, finding no current disability or evidence of in-service injury that would support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability and glaucoma on a direct or secondary basis to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.