Wrist & hand decisions — 2007

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the ratings for his broken nose and wrist injuries, leaving no issues remaining before the Board.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the merits of the veteran's claims, including obtaining an opinion from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology regarding the nature and cause of his GCTs.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the basic eligibility requirements for a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing or a certificate of eligibility for a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has determined that there is no current left wrist impairment to warrant a compensable rating, as the symptoms are attributed to a nonservice-connected post-service injury and resulting surgery.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a right wrist condition and an increased evaluation for his left wrist sprain, post traumatic left wrist arthritis and status post left carpal tunnel release. The examiner found no nexus between the in-service injury and current symptoms.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The rating for the right wrist disability was upheld at 40 percent.

The veteran's tinea versicolor and pseudofolliculitis barbae were granted a 30% rating effective November 21, 2005. The left carpal tunnel syndrome claim is considered 'unknown' as it was not addressed in the decision.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of fractures of the back, dorsal and lumbar spine T1, T12, L1, and L2, to include arthritis, warrants a rating of 40 percent under Diagnostic Code 5292. The current 20 percent evaluation is deemed inadequate as it does not reflect the severity of his disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cerebrovascular accident (stroke), distal splenic artery focal aneurysm, a nerve condition, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings in various service-connected disabilities were denied. The right knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to November 12, 2004 and 30 percent from January 1, 2006. Other conditions had their respective ratings either unchanged or not addressed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right wrist disability, characterized by severe incomplete paralysis of the median nerve, warrants a 50% rating under Diagnostic Code 8515.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple joint pain and a respiratory condition as secondary to the veteran's service-connected lymphocytic lymphoma. The other claims of service connection were denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations and increased ratings for migraine headaches and residuals of a left wrist fracture, finding that the evidence does not support higher disability ratings based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing residuals of fractured second metacarpal of the right wrist were aggravated by active service, and therefore grants service connection for these disabilities.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection were denied. The appeals are dismissed.