Wrist & hand decisions — 2007

The veteran's request for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals, left wrist fracture was denied. The service connection claim for hepatitis C was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to his service-connected disabilities, which contributed materially to his death. The appellant's claims for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. �� 1151 and 1318 are dismissed as moot.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The VA has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right wrist, with a disability rating of 100%.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right elbow disorder and right wrist disorder are not related to military service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his spine and peripheral neuropathy conditions have been granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective from September 5, 2003.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that service connection for the claimed right shoulder and left wrist disabilities is not warranted based on the lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's peptic ulcer disease with reflux was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent for keratoconus have not been met, and the criteria for a compensable rating for Raynaud's Syndrome have not been met.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed left arm and chest conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during service or a relationship to service.

The veteran's service-connected conditions have been resolved or are not compensable. The initial noncompensable rating for the chip fracture of the left ankle remains in effect, and the ganglion cyst, benign fibroma, and sebaceous cyst on the right wrist, left side of the neck, and left ear canal, respectively, have all resolved.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for postoperative bilateral arm and hand disorders, including ulnar neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, ulnar nerve palsy and nonunion fracture of the left humerus. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to exposure to ionizing radiation in service or to active military duty.

The Board found that the veteran's right shoulder and wrist injuries are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected knee disabilities, thus denying the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for chronic bilateral wrist, hip, and low back disabilities (claimed as arthritis), finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions during his period of active duty. The severance of VA compensation for arthritis of the right and left knee awarded in 2003 was also upheld.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and proper VCAA notice.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee condition and bilateral finger condition as they are as likely as not related to service. The veteran's post-service medical records provide evidence in support of these claims.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss and left inguinal hernia due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected post-operative residuals of a left wrist fracture is denied as the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for his right wrist disability is being remanded due to the need for further evaluation, including consideration of whether he is entitled to an extra-schedular rating. The current evidence does not warrant a higher evaluation under the existing criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for scaphoid fracture with deQuervain's tenosynovitis, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria for hearing loss or sufficient functional impairment to warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected postoperative fracture of the carponavicular bone of the left wrist is being remanded to obtain additional information and comply with due process considerations.