Wrist & hand decisions — 2008

The veteran's service-connected dysthymic disorder/PTSD, rated at 70 percent disabling, has prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment due to his psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist ganglion cyst and lumbosacral strain to include sacrococcygeal cyst and L5/S1 degenerative disc disease, finding no evidence of chronicity in service or within one year after service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left wrist symptomatology is related to his active duty service and has granted service connection for residuals of a left wrist injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left wrist arthritis is not due to or the result of his service-connected low back disability, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The veteran is seeking compensation under the 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left wrist and hand disorder that he claims was caused by an IV lock placement during treatment at a VA medical facility in June 2003. The case has been remanded to obtain additional evidence, including a VA examination.

The veteran's left wrist condition prior to February 1, 2001 did not meet the criteria for a disability rating greater than 20 percent.,The veteran's right wrist condition did not meet the criteria for an initial disability rating greater than 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected status post left wrist injury with avascular necrosis, finding that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his left wrist disability was dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction. The claim for SMP by reason of the need for regular aid and attendance of another person has been reopened based on new evidence, but the criteria for receiving such benefits have not been met.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of the right wrist that was incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA appeal records and VA treatment records.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of her claims for increased evaluations for her service-connected wrist disabilities. The RO must also consider whether an extraschedular evaluation is warranted.

The veteran's left leg and right leg peripheral neuropathy are each rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating under Diagnostic Code 8520. The veteran's left and right carpal tunnel syndromes are also rated at 10 percent.,There is no evidence of any other service connection theory applicable to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the current severity of the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral wrist weakness, head pain, chest pain, foot pain, leg pain, and knee pain.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses for bilateral pes planus, right knee disability, or cervical spine disability. The claims of service connection for these conditions are denied.

The veteran's extensive use of a pneumatic drill in service has contributed to his current bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome with neurologic dysfunction in the right wrist. The Board finds that this disorder is at least as likely as not due to his service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his traumatic arthritis of the left wrist, currently rated at 20 percent. The evidence did not show that the condition was fixed in any position or had significant limitation of motion.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hiatal hernia and neurological pathology of the legs, including as secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain with hypertrophic changes.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected right wrist fracture and nerve entrapment, as well as his claim for service connection for cervical spine disability. The RO continued the veteran's existing 10 percent ratings under different diagnostic codes.