Wrist & hand decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being reviewed to determine if they result in the need for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right wrist is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for arthritis of the right wrist, right elbow, left elbow, and right knee were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA medical records and SSA records. A psychiatric examination will be conducted to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disability, and a right wrist examination will be conducted to assess the severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for left wrist and forearm disabilities were denied. The claim for residuals of ulnar nerve laceration and repair, left hand distal to the wrist was granted with a 20% rating. The claims for muscle damage, left hand and recurrent microhematuria were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, PTSD, and dental trauma. The initial disability ratings for left wrist fracture residuals and bilateral mandibular jaw fracture residuals were also denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist conditions, and has therefore remanded the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss attributable to his period of military service and denied entitlement to increased ratings for paresthesia of the right and left lower extremities, as well as a healed fracture of the ulnar, styloid, and navicular bone of the left wrist.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased evaluation of his right wrist disability, finding that the current level of disability did not warrant a rating in excess of ten percent.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and a lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is linked to his military occupational duties as an operating room specialist. His hypertension was noted in service with elevated blood pressure readings. His lumbar spine disability is also linked to service. For the initial rating period prior to September 26, 2003, a higher initial evaluation for cervical spine disability than 10 percent has been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right wrist condition and an initial noncompensable rating for right ankle condition status post Achilles tendon repair. The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His lumbar spine condition was rated at 10 percent, his knee conditions were not compensable, his shoulder bursitis did not meet criteria for a higher rating, his wrist fracture had no compensable disability rating, his foot hallux valgus conditions were not compensable, and he did not receive service connection for a left hip condition.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for tendonitis of the right wrist, right heel, left heel, and right knee are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports. The Veteran also has pending claims for service connection for chronic urticaria, pneumonia and pleural effusion, headaches due to head trauma, and an initial compensable evaluation for left knee strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine if his right hand and arm neurological problems are related to his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist, cervical spine, left hip, and lumbar spine disabilities are denied. The issues of service connection for headaches (secondary to a cervical spine disability) and temporomandibular joint disorder remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disorder and bilateral wrist tendonitis disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a need for clarification of the nature and etiology of his neurological symptoms, as well as further examination to determine if there are any residual conditions related to his left wrist injury.

The Veteran does not have a chronic disability of the back, chest, hands, arms, and legs that is due to disease or injury incurred in service.,Bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was not incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral wrist tendonitis is currently rated at the maximum 10 percent disability level, and no higher rating can be assigned based on current evidence of record.