Wrist & hand decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of right and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome are not related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of genital herpes and a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right wrist disability. The evidence did not support a finding that the current disabilities were related to service.

The Board found that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as he is currently employed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tendonitis of the right and left wrists were denied as there is no evidence that warrants an increase in their current ratings.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or other link to service. The VA audiology examination report indicated normal hearing at both ears upon entrance and separation from service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, and migraine/cluster headaches due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board found no evidence of chronic disabilities of the right knee, low back, right wrist, or right ankle that were incurred in service or related to a service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and a left elbow condition. Additional VA examinations are required to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims.

The Veteran's right and left wrist/hand disabilities are rated at 50% and 40%, respectively, for severe incomplete paralysis of the median nerve. The Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings based on ankylosis or other criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral hand and wrist disabilities, including arthritis of the right index finger, left middle finger, right wrist, and left wrist, are found to have been incurred during active military service.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence of any current, chronic right or left wrist disability to grant service connection for these conditions.

The Board finds that service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is warranted on a secondary basis because the evidence is at least in relative equipoise. The Veteran's current right hip disability was not found to be related to his service-connected knee condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability is service-connected, while her left knee and wrist disabilities are not.,The Veteran's right wrist disability is service-connected, but her left wrist disability is not.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim to reopen his knee disorders was also denied.

The Veteran's lumbar strain/spasm has been granted an increased rating to 20 percent effective March 2, 2007. The right carpal tunnel syndrome of the hand was also granted a higher initial disability rating.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for a left wrist disability or right knee disability, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist, left wrist, and left shoulder disabilities were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that resulted in these conditions.

The Veteran's aching joints and muscles, other than back and knees, are not service-connected due to lack of objective evidence supporting the claim. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his current joint pain is related to active military service or events therein.