Wrist & hand decisions — 2006

The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding no current diagnosis of a hernia and noting that there is no record of any in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's migraine headaches, right wrist disorder, lumbosacral strain/injury, and left shoulder disorder. The decision also addressed evaluations for these conditions, with some issues being granted initial or increased ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's appeal is dismissed as he withdrew his claims for service connection of eczema, including claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure; entitlement to an earlier effective date for service connection of peripheral neuropathy of left lower extremity and entitlement to an earlier effective date for service connection of peripheral neuropathy of right lower extremity.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have residuals of TIAs, and his umbilical hernia is currently asymptomatic. The veteran's right wrist tendonitis also does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right wrist fracture, as there is no evidence of ankylosis and the current 10% rating is the maximum available for limitation of motion.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The Board found that the veteran's current left wrist problems are not service-connected, as his pre-existing condition worsened after service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for left carpal tunnel syndrome was denied. The VA found that the condition did not meet criteria for a higher than 30 percent or 50 percent rating during the specified periods.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-operative residuals of a ganglion cyst of the right wrist were not incurred or aggravated during active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected hypertension on his ability to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a fracture of the right ankle, a right wrist disability, a left wrist disability, a low back disability, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The evidence does not support these claims as there is no current diagnosis or showing of such disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right wrist disability and a TDIU rating, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for muscular back pain and a bilateral wrist disorder, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support the presence of chronic low back or wrist disabilities, and there was no medical basis to grant these claims.

The Board found no evidence of an undiagnosed illness or qualifying chronic disability for the claimed conditions, and thus denied service connection.

The veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine was reopened and granted. He is also awarded a rating of 40 percent for his residuals, status post herniated nucleus pulposus, L5-S1, effective as of June 5, 2001. The other claims were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral wrist disorder is service-connected, resolving all reasonable doubt in her favor.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and left CTS. The evidence now before the RO includes diagnoses of PTSD due to sexual assault during service and depression at discharge.

The Board has restored the 10% ratings for left and right wrist ganglion cysts from September 1, 2001 to May 28, 2002. The veteran's service-connected ganglion cysts have not improved enough to warrant a lower rating.

The veteran's service-connected lumbar disc disease has progressed to such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome.