Wrist & hand decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a left wrist fracture are secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including malaria, left wrist disability, fungal infection, and a snake bite. The issues of reopening these claims were addressed, but no new evidence was submitted to reopen them.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral wrist disorder is service-connected as it was noted in service and continued after separation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file to establish a nexus between the Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome and service. The Veteran is requested to provide clarification regarding his request for left hand carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a left wrist disability as there is no new and material evidence presented since the March 2003 RO rating decision.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the appellant did not meet the requirements for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board found that the Veteran's disabilities resulting from a May 6, 2007 motor vehicle accident were due to his own willful misconduct and denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection were granted, with the right distal radius fracture with degenerative changes of the wrist rated at 10 percent. The left elbow and right elbow disabilities are also service-connected as secondary to his hand impairment.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding his claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence. The issues have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed disabilities as a result of service or secondary to a service-connected disability, and therefore, denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for her service-connected right femoral neck fracture and left wrist fracture were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of the currently assigned 10 percent and 20 percent evaluations, respectively.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin disability of nails, shingles, chronic upper respiratory infection disability (claimed as seasonal allergies), and bilateral wrist disability. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of a chronic disability manifested by dizziness/motion sickness or vertigo, and thus denied these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals, colle's fracture involving the left wrist with malunion, distal ulna resection and traumatic arthritis as his disability is already rated at the maximum level.

The Board denied the petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a left wrist disorder, including recurrent left wrist pain secondary to non-bony union of a fracture of the left carpal navicular due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating and reopening of service connection for gastrointestinal disability and muscle and joint pain with bilateral wrist swelling to include as due to undiagnosed illness are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for reactive arthritis/synovitis affecting multiple joints and astigmatism due to medication secondary to reactive arthritis/synovitis, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of left wrist injury, left hip subtrochanteric bursitis, and fibromyalgia were denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to her military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for additional residuals of shrapnel wounds, affecting the right hand and wrist, and leg scars was denied as there is no evidence of current disability related to his inservice injuries.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, including fracture with arthritis and proximal row carpectomy, warrants a rating of 30 percent for painful motion and separate evaluations for mild incomplete paralysis of the ulnar nerve.

The Board found that the Veteran's left wrist disorder is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection. The rating assigned for his right foot fracture was also denied.