Wrist & hand decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral knee, hip, ankle, hand, and wrist disorders were not caused or aggravated by his military service or a service-connected condition. The preponderance of evidence supports this conclusion.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's bilateral wrist, ankle, knee (arthritis), hand (arthritis), and hearing loss disabilities, as well as her residuals of left ear tympanoplasty, all claimed to be related to a repelling accident during active duty for training in May 1995.

The veteran's pes planus was found to have originated during service and is therefore granted service connection. The left wrist disability, however, did not result from VA care or negligence, so the 1151 claim for compensation is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, left wrist fracture residuals, and left femur disability. The appeal is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current carpal tunnel syndrome and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine did not result from his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome disabilities were denied by the Board. The conditions are service-connected under a direct theory.

The veteran's heart disease, epididymitis, aneurysm, white mass on the brain, memory loss, COPD, left wrist weakness and scarring, right ear hearing loss, seizure disorder, and erectile dysfunction are not service-connected due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange.,Service connection is denied for all claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral shoulder, hand, or wrist disorders and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back condition is not related to his service-connected left knee injury, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The claim for reopening of a bilateral wrist condition was also denied as there is no new and material evidence submitted.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative changes of the knees, resolving doubt in favor of the veteran.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various back, hip, leg, and knee disorders as well as left and right upper extremity disorders. The evidence does not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for her service-connected arthritis of the wrists and denied her claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity resulting from VA surgery and treatment in 1974.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found no evidence of an increase in severity during service and insufficient medical evidence to support a finding that the current disabilities are related to service.

The veteran's service-connected left wrist scars were granted a 10% rating effective October 22, 2002. The Board found that the earlier effective dates for service connection and increased rating are not warranted.

The veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, and his recurrent ganglion cyst on the right wrist is also rated at 10 percent. The RO has granted both claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shin splints, a right hand/wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The evidence does not support these claims.

The veteran withdrew his appeals, and the Board dismissed the case.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left wrist ganglion cyst removal residual scar was denied. The Board found that the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the functional limitations and non-deep nature of the scar.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for actinic keratosis, right shoulder condition, and bilateral wrist condition. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen these claims.