Wrist & hand decisions — 2008

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for right shoulder tendonitis, left wrist tendonitis, and right 5th metacarpal fracture with tendinitis have been granted. The current evaluations of 10 percent are the highest possible under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left wrist and thumb ganglion cysts do not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable evaluation under any applicable rating code.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the initial increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbar strain, carpal tunnel syndrome (left and right wrists), left ankle, and hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The veteran's service-connected post-operative residuals of a laceration of the right wrist with incomplete paralysis of the musculospiral (radial) nerve warrant a 30 percent rating for moderate impairment.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective from the date of the decision. The left hand carpal tunnel syndrome is rated at 10 percent prior to July 22, 2003 and 20 percent as of that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with VA's duty to assist by not obtaining relevant medical evidence. The veteran must provide releases and identify sources of treatment, including Billings VA outpatient clinic and Fort Harrison VAMC records from March 2006 to present.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his lumbosacral strain claim and denying both issues.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and compensation for various conditions, including a head injury laceration scar, left ankle disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, dehydration, hepatitis B exposure, heart condition, hypertension, chronic respiratory disorder, sinusitis, and post-operative deviated nasal septum.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability of hearing loss as defined by VA regulations. For his knee and hand conditions, the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes. The adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety was also not rated at a higher level.

The veteran is seeking service connection for multiple excisions of a recurrent giant cell tumor of the left hand and wrist, as well as bilateral lung disease. The case has been remanded to obtain additional medical evidence regarding the nature of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence submitted by the veteran and his assertion of worsening symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and depression, finding that the veteran's current conditions are related to her military service. Other claimed disabilities were not found to be service-connected.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome on both hands, finding that the disability did not meet the criteria for higher ratings during the relevant periods.

The Board found no evidence of current disabilities associated with the veteran's claimed scars and denied all service connection claims.

The veteran's service-connected navicular fracture, right wrist is not manifested by x-ray evidence of involvement of two or more major joints or two or more minor joint groups with occasional incapacitating exacerbations; or ankylosis of the hand. Therefore, his claim for a higher schedular rating has been denied.

The Board found that the veteran's CTS, left knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorders were not incurred or aggravated during service.,Service connection was denied for all three conditions.

The veteran's right wrist condition is denied as there is no current diagnosis.,Service connection for a herniated disc, cervical spine, is granted based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluation of diabetes mellitus and service connection for hypertension, right eye iritis, PTSD, and left wrist tendonitis. The VA found that diabetes mellitus alone warranted a 20% rating without requiring regulation of activities or hospitalizations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and failure to review the claims file. The veteran's service connection claims for a low back disability and right wrist disability are pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that none of them were incurred or aggravated by active military service.