Wrist & hand decisions — 2006

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD due to a beating during basic training. The VA examiner determined that the veteran did not have a diagnosis of PTSD and instead had symptoms consistent with generalized anxiety disorder. For his scar, the Board noted that the veteran's disability is rated based on limitation of function rather than a separate rating code.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for hypertension, allergic rhinitis, and left wrist ganglionectomy residuals have been denied. The RO has already assigned the maximum available benefit of 10 percent for each condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board has remanded the case for a hearing before a Decision Review Officer (DRO) at the RO. The veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities remain pending.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right and left carpal tunnel syndrome.

For the period June 27, 2000 to May 10, 2005, the veteran's right wrist fracture was rated at 30 percent due to symptoms including pain and weakness.,Starting from May 11, 2005, a higher evaluation of greater than 30 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome associated with the right wrist fracture is warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left wrist disability did not result from VA treatment and, therefore, compensation benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's wrist disorders, including carpal tunnel syndrome, are not related to service or her service-connected cervical spine stenosis.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral lower leg disability and granted service connection for a right wrist disability. The skin disorder claim is pending due to the need for clarification of diagnosis and etiology.

The veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of right forearm, wrist, and hand injury residuals. For the low back disability, the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to March 24, 1994, and for a rating in excess of 10 percent postoperative residuals prior to February 7, 1995, were not met. The veteran's right knee chondromalacia was rated at the maximum schedular rating since February 7, 1995.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound was denied as she does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current wrist disorder is related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD; whether new and material evidence was received to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and numbness to the arms; and ratings in excess of 10 percent for herniated muscle of the left thigh and chondromalacia of the right knee. The veteran's claims were also denied for earlier effective dates.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for right carpal tunnel syndrome and migraine headaches were denied. The claim for onychomycosis was remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee, bilateral wrist conditions, and bursitis of the hip are not service-connected. The sinusitis claim is pending as it requires further evidence.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently have chronic conditions such as depression and anxiety, bursitis of the right wrist, pelvic inflammatory disease, a right knee disability, or chronic headaches secondary to asthma that are residuals of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during service.

The Board found that the carpal tunnel syndrome of the veteran's right upper extremity was present prior to VA surgery and treatment in 1974, and this disability did not increase in severity as a result of the VA surgery or treatment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for asthma, left wrist scar, and knee conditions. The issues have been remanded to obtain additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic left wrist fracture residuals with degenerative joint disease and denied service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder.