Wrist & hand decisions — 2006

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right wrist disorder, left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, headache disorder, and hearing loss. The decision is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to failure of the veteran to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and evidence from SSA.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his left wrist ganglion cyst is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral thumb disorder and right wrist disorder are not service-connected as they were not incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was not caused by carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill on the part of VA in providing surgical treatment. The increased disability rating for tension headaches is also denied as there is no evidence of marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.

The veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective June 29, 1998, based on her service-connected bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lower back, prostatitis, and rheumatoid arthritis of the right hand and wrist disabilities due to incomplete development. The RO/AMC is instructed to verify whether or not the veteran is receiving disability benefits from SSA and obtain any relevant medical documentation.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right wrist fracture, residual scarring from thyroidectomy, and chronic sinusitis were denied as there was no evidence of the required criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating codes.

The veteran's claim for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance, or adaptive equipment, is denied as he does not have a qualifying service-connected disability.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are being reviewed to determine if they contributed to his death. The DIC claim is also under review.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for her left wrist Galeazzi fracture and right great toe disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board found that the veteran's right wrist disorder is congenital and not service-connected. The claim for an increased rating for his right shoulder impingement was also denied.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral wrist disability related to service or service-connected fibromyalgia, and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service medical records and missing treatment records.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his herniated intervertebral disc at L5-S1 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left ankle sprain was rated as noncompensable from March 2, 1980 to June 5, 2001, and 10 percent thereafter. The right wrist laceration with medial nerve involvement was also rated at 10 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of a left wrist fracture, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's left wrist disability was granted an initial evaluation of 40 percent effective October 11, 2002. His left iliac crest donor site scar remains at a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and wrist disabilities, finding that he was not entitled to a compensable rating for his hearing loss or an increased rating for his wrist disabilities.