Wrist & hand decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a bilateral wrist disability, elbow disability, or joint pain in the fingers. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's sleep deprivation and chronic fatigue, as well as his neurological problems of the right wrist, are not service-connected. The Board found no evidence of a current disability for which benefits may be granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a left wrist disability attributable to service and denied both her claim for service connection and her request for an initial compensable rating for residuals of a left inferior pubic ramus fracture.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have not met the criteria for increased evaluations beyond the currently assigned ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities that meet the criteria for compensable ratings or service connection.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for headaches, which he claims are related to his service-connected disabilities and/or undiagnosed illness. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete notice and need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist disability is related to her active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist scar and an initial compensable disability rating for residuals of a left wrist tendon laceration due to lack of compliance with scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while disabling, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for all issues except gout, which received a 20% disability rating. The remaining conditions were either not granted or had their ratings denied.

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome/ulnar neuropathy, Meniere's syndrome/vertigo, and hypertensive vascular disease were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, including a fracture with bone graft and degenerative joint disease, is currently rated at 10 percent. A separate 10 percent evaluation for the superficial left wrist scar has also been granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating were denied. The RO granted service connection for tension headaches associated with seizure disorders, but assigned a noncompensable rating.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus due to a lack of evidence linking the condition to active duty service. The Veteran's claim for hearing loss is pending, as VA needs to obtain additional personnel records related to his Reserve status.

The Veteran's claims for nerve and muscle damage due to surgery, right groin (to include right pelvic/hip damage causing the right side to be shorter than the left), root canal problems (to include gum disease with loss of teeth), fibromyalgia (to include body wide sickness and nausea secondary to dental work and extreme fatigue), depression, insomnia, neck problems (claimed as neck problems with bone spurring), back problems (claimed as scoliosis in the spine), chronic ear problems (claimed as hole punctured and eardrum), anemia, vision problems (to include an eye condition), hearing loss, impairment of the right knee, right foot condition, head condition, carpal tunnel syndrome, right (also claimed as paralysis of medial nerve), left knee condition, and left foot condition have all been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for a disability of the left and right hands and wrists, finding no evidence of current disabilities related to service.

The Board denied a schedular rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right wrist disability, but acknowledged his contention that it reduced or virtually eliminated his ability to continue working as a mechanic. The Board remanded the claim for an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to determine the etiology of any current right hand or wrist disability and whether it is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination.