Wrist & hand decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right wrist disability, and neck disability were all denied as there is no competent medical evidence of current disabilities or a link to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right wrist fracture and patellofemoral syndrome, right knee were granted initial compensable ratings. The Veteran is entitled to a 10% rating for the residuals of a right wrist fracture and no higher. For his patellofemoral syndrome, right knee, he is also entitled to a 10% rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for tinnitus and residuals of a fractured right wrist. However, it is not clear whether these claims will be granted as they are still under consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist and bilateral hearing loss, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, fibromyalgia, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and thoracic outlet syndrome.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain SSA administrative decisions and ensure compliance with the prior remand instructions.

The Veteran's current bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy is related to a service-connected disability, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of hypertension, service connection for numbness of the hands other than CTS, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) were denied. Service connection for a kidney disability was also denied due to lack of post-service medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the service member's hypertension, which he had during his lifetime and prior to death, was related to his active service or any service-connected disability. The appellant must provide additional medical opinions on this issue.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and left wrist fracture, finding no new evidence to reopen the claims and concluding that any current disabilities are not related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and reopening of a claim are all granted. The Veteran is awarded an increased rating for his gastroesophageal hiatal hernia with reflux esophagitis, but the issues regarding his right foot disability and residuals of right hand injury remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete examination reports and failure to obtain requested opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions of arthritis of the right arm, wrist, ankle, and back injury residuals are not service-connected as they did not develop or permanently increase in severity during any period of service.

The Veteran's requests for service connection for hearing loss, back strain with recurrent back pain, acquired psychiatric disorder, and left hand/wrist carpal tunnel syndrome were denied as new and material evidence was not presented to reopen the claims. The Veteran's current psychiatric disorder is not linked to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, major depressive disorder, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's hypertension and plantar fasciitis are not rated as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for left knee disability and defective visual acuity, but denied service connection for left wrist disability. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical records and schedule a VA examination.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic right wrist disability that was incurred or aggravated by service, and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right wrist strain, left wrist strain, and low back strain are related to his service. The evidence shows that he was treated for these conditions in service and diagnosed with them after service.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for residuals of right hamstring removal for ACL reconstruction of the right knee, laxity of the left knee, ganglion cyst of the left wrist, surgical scars of the right and left upper arms have all been denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and extraschedular evaluation for his left wrist disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on lost motion, but noted that he had significant impairment due to neurological issues.