Wrist & hand decisions — 2008

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left wrist stab wound residuals and right index finger surgery, finding that the conditions did not warrant ratings higher than the current 20 percent and 10 percent evaluations, respectively.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board is considering multiple claims for service connection, including prostate cancer and various other disabilities. The veteran's petition to reopen his claim for left hand/wrist scar has been granted due to the submission of new evidence. However, no new or material evidence was submitted to support reopening the claims for hearing loss, hypertension, eye disability, sexual dysfunction, left foot disability, skin disability, residuals of partial right nephrectomy, and prostate cancer.

The Board has remanded the claims for initial higher ratings due to the RO's recent increases in disability ratings, and the veteran is seeking further review of his service connection claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Tic Disorder/Tourette's Syndrome and Disability of Wrist and Fingers. Service connection was granted for Hypertension.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a separate adjudication of service connection for below the knee amputation as secondary to bilateral pes planus and readjudication of the TDIU claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, but granted service connection for ulnar neuropathy of the left elbow. The decision is mixed as it addresses both a direct service connection issue and an issue related to a pre-existing condition.

The veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was determined to have resulted from an injury incurred or aggravated during active service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of multiple joints, finding that there was no evidence to support a secondary relationship between his service-connected low back disorder and these conditions. The effective date claim was also denied as the veteran did not provide new and material evidence.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected right wrist disability, effective from the date of the decision. The veteran is also entitled to SMC based on loss of use of one hand and TDIU prior to January 29, 2007.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected right wrist disability, effective from the date of the decision. The veteran is also entitled to SMC based on loss of use of one hand and TDIU prior to January 29, 2007.

The veteran's increased rating claims for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as erectile dysfunction, have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of these issues from appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of evidence and need for further examination, particularly regarding carpal tunnel syndrome.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the current nature of the veteran's claimed right wrist, thoracic spine, and lumbar spine disabilities. The RO will also adjudicate the issues of service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities.

The VA has determined that the veteran's right wrist osteoarthritis, which was initially characterized as a healed fracture, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran withdrew her appeal for the claims of service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, impaired vision, hair loss, and an initial compensable rating for migraine headaches.

The veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and his military service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of his claim for an increased rating for residuals of left wrist fusion.