Wrist & hand decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain all relevant medical records and ensure compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral tinnitus and residuals of a fracture of the scaphoid bone with degenerative joint disease of the right wrist was denied. The maximum schedular rating available for both conditions has been assigned.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for higher ratings in several conditions, including arteriosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, geographic tongue, and a right wrist ganglion cyst. The claim for otitis media and externa was also withdrawn. As such, the Board has no further jurisdiction in these matters.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left carpal tunnel syndrome warrants a disability rating of 20 percent, reflecting moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board has granted service connection for CTS of the right wrist and assigned a noncompensable evaluation. For CTS of the left wrist, the Board has also granted service connection and assigned a noncompensable evaluation based on mild symptoms. Headaches are not compensably disabling.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that there is no current disability to support these claims. The veteran was not provided with adequate notice regarding effective dates.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee, left knee, right elbow, and right wrist disabilities are all service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying periods of active duty. The veteran's service connection claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to make a decision on the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The case is being remanded so that all outstanding records may be obtained and associated with the claims file, including any service medical records and an EMG study report.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left and right CTS disabilities warrant different disability ratings based on the severity of his symptoms, with the left wrist having a mild impairment prior to October 24, 2001, and moderate impairment since then. The right wrist had a mild impairment prior to October 24, 2001, and moderate impairment after that date.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete military service records and requests for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, a right wrist disorder, or migraine headaches that are service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed left wrist, left elbow, left shoulder, left hip, right hip, and cervical spine disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome and his service-connected injuries. The veteran needs a medical opinion based on the November 2005 examination and review of his claims file.

The veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his right wrist sprain and bilateral pes planus were denied as the evidence did not show that either condition warranted a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for degenerative joint disease of the right wrist, residuals of a fracture of the fourth and fifth metacarpal joints, postoperative arthrodesis, and duodenal ulcer disease are denied as there is no evidence showing that these conditions warrant ratings in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, osteoarthritis of multiple joints, and bilateral wrist disorder due to lack of evidence showing these conditions began during his period of honorable military service.

The Board found that the rating decisions of December 15, 1971 and January 28, 1977 did not contain clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in their failure to assign a separate rating for non-union of the ulna.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current bilateral knee or left wrist disability and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.