Wrist & hand decisions — 2008

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his right wrist disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right wrist or right hip disorders and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of hypertension and arthritis for further development. The status of hypertension is unknown, while the arthritis issue requires additional medical examination to determine if it is related to service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome and service connection for coronary artery disease have been denied. The denial of the carpal tunnel syndrome claims is due to lack of competent medical evidence showing a worsening condition since his last VA examination in July 2005, while the denial of service connection for coronary artery disease is based on the absence of evidence linking the veteran's current heart condition to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to noise exposure during National Guard service, while his left ear hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for a disability. The arthritis of the left hand and wrist is found to be at least as likely as not due to in-service frostbite.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled video conference hearing. The RO will reschedule the hearing and notify him of the new date.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection of right wrist, left wrist, and right knee conditions as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

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The veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current shoulder and wrist disabilities are related to his service-connected knee disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand and wrist disorders are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed residuals of a right hand and wrist fracture are not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and also denied his claim for carpal tunnel syndrome. The veteran is not entitled to either benefit.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service, and the symptoms he reported are not considered chronic or attributable to any known clinical diagnosis.

The veteran's left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome has been rated at 10 percent since June 7, 2006. The condition was previously noncompensable from March 11, 2002 to January 28, 2004.

The Board found no current evidence of a left hand disability and concluded that the right hand disability, diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome, is not related to service. The veteran's symptoms were noted during his military service but he did not seek treatment for these symptoms until after separation from service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities for which service connection can be granted, including left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, residuals of frostbite of the right hand, bilateral knee arthritis, or bilateral ankle arthritis.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of right wrist, left wrist, or right shoulder disabilities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the veteran does not have carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome, or fatigue as a result of service. The preponderance of evidence shows these conditions are unrelated to her military service.

The Board found no evidence of a left wrist injury during service and concluded that the current left wrist disorder is not related to service. The claim for service connection was denied.