Wrist & hand decisions — 2007

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing current disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right hand and wrist injury, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's left knee and right wrist disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which was aggravated by his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder. However, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are denied as the veteran did not meet the criteria for continuous total disability rating.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has ordered another VA examination to evaluate the veteran's right wrist scar and determine if it is separate from his wrist movement pain. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, and cardiac arrhythmia secondary to hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist injury with carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as a compensable disability rating for postoperative residuals of a ganglion cyst. The claim was reopened based on new evidence received since the April 1993 decision.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus does not require insulin or the regulation of activities, and thus a higher rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of various joints and a compensable evaluation for rheumatic heart disease, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty or any service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for essential hypertension and residuals of a left wrist fracture, finding that his conditions do not warrant higher ratings based on the evidence of record.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, bilateral leg disorders, and gastroenteritis. The case is being remanded to allow consideration of additional evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any identified disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, while significant, do not render him unemployable. The Board finds that the veteran is capable of securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis of the left hip, right hip, right knee, left knee, fingers of the right hand, fingers of the left hand, right elbow, left elbow, right wrist, and left wrist have been rated as 10 percent disabling. The veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis of the left shoulder and right shoulder have been rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left wrist scaphoid fracture, hypertension, and tongue laceration with complex surgical repair do not warrant an initial compensable evaluation at any time since their effective dates.

The VA has denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's right wrist disability, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of the left hand or left wrist, and there is no evidence linking any such disabilities to his service-connected fracture of the left middle finger. As a result, the claims for secondary service connection are denied.

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for an additional right knee disability is dismissed as the issue has been rendered moot by the grant of service connection for residuals of a right total knee replacement.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for joint and muscle pain due to undiagnosed illness, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The veteran's chronic bilateral wrist joint pains are presumed to have resulted from an undiagnosed illness during active military service in Southwest Asia.