Wrist & hand decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and an increased rating for his residuals of a right wrist contusion with arthritis, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to active service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for chronic bronchitis and a right wrist disability, to include carpal tunnel syndrome. The veteran's claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right wrist fracture and for a compensable rating for hemorrhoids are denied as there is no evidence to support higher ratings under applicable VA regulations.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his right wrist disorder, finding that the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Board denied service connection for both the right wrist capsulitis and right thumb fracture residuals. The veteran's right thumb fracture residuals were initially rated noncompensable, but later granted a 10% rating effective March 8, 2007.

The Board has denied service connection for a ganglion cyst of the right wrist and is now remanding the issue of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability to include as secondary to a service-connected cervical spine disability due to additional development.

The veteran's service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist with reflex sympathetic dystrophy was found to not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to February 2, 2001 and not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent effective February 2, 2001.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities and neurogenic bladder, finding that there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left forearm disorder is not distinct from his service-connected residuals of left wrist fracture and thus does not meet the criteria for separate service connection. The claim for service connection for a brain tumor (now characterized as an inferior third ventricle wall benign cystic lesion) was previously denied in 1978, but new evidence has been submitted that creates a reasonable possibility of substantiating this claim. Similarly, the claim for residuals of head trauma with headaches was also previously denied and reopened based on new evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist disorder, PTSD, and entitlement to additional compensation benefits for dependents. The temporary evaluation of 100 percent based on convalescence following left knee arthroscopy was also denied.

The veteran's adjustment disorder is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to support a higher rating.,There is no current evidence of left wrist or right knee pathology that would warrant service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right hand/wrist disorder is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right wrist disability and TDIU prior to November 23, 2004 were denied. His claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence being added to the record and a supplemental statement of the case needs to be issued.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for service connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and granted service connection for PTSD, but denied his secondary service connection claims for hypertension, sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and a skin condition. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide VA examinations.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and left hand/wrist disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent for postoperative right (dominant) carpal tunnel syndrome, vacating the previous decision that only granted a 10 percent rating.

The VA has denied service connection for the residuals of right foot, wrist, and shoulder sprains due to lack of diagnosed conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various lower body conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right arm and wrist conditions, finding no current diagnoses or evidence of in-service injuries that could be linked to these conditions.