Wrist & hand decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have current disability involving the claimed manifestations of joint pain, muscle pain, eye disability (residual conjunctivitis), fatigue, sleep disturbance, or headaches. Therefore, service connection is denied for these conditions.

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

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected right wrist tendinitis was denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome was denied because the evidence submitted since June 1996 is cumulative and does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left hand and right hand carpal tunnel syndromes were not incurred in or related to his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right wrist disability, but denied service connection for left hand, bilateral elbow, and thumb disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his service-connected knee conditions, pancreas condition, diabetes mellitus, low back condition, kidney condition, prostate condition, neck condition, left wrist condition, right wrist condition, colon/intestine condition, and left hip condition. The veteran was also denied service connection for a bladder condition and a stomach disorder.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation or service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right wrist scaphoid disability and right ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.

The Board has granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity, which will now be considered in conjunction with other disabilities when evaluating the claim for TDIU.

The veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum allowed, and he meets the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found no evidence of current chronic headache, bilateral shoulder disorder, or elbow disorders related to service. The veteran's right wrist fracture was service-connected, and his current elbow disorders were determined to be secondary to this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability and low back disability, as well as his claim to reopen a claim for service connection for a left ankle disability. The evidence submitted since the July 1971 decision did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left upper extremities, but denied entitlement to higher initial disability ratings. The veteran's Osgood Schlatter's disease with tibial tuberosity of the left knee is rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has granted increased evaluations for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand and left hand, both effective April 21, 2008.

The Board denied all claims, including service connection for PTSD and degenerative joint disease of the right wrist, as well as increased ratings for various disabilities. The claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for an increased rating for a right wrist disability, service connection for a back disability, and whether new and material evidence has been submitted regarding his claim of service connection for a back disability.

The veteran's service-connected conditions, including amputation of the left arm and arthritis in multiple joints, necessitate his need for regular aid and attendance from another person. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including providing proper notice to reopen a claim of service connection for sleep apnea and allowing the veteran's representative (TVC) an opportunity to respond to a supplemental statement of the case.