Wrist & hand decisions — 2009

The appeal is remanded to the RO for an appropriate VA examination to determine the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed disabilities, including as due to undiagnosed illness resulting from service in the Southwest Asia theater during the Gulf War.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including a bilateral hand condition, ganglion cyst of the left wrist, endometriosis and residuals of a hysterectomy, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's service-connected right carpal tunnel syndrome with thumb ligament repair was granted a 40 percent rating, effective September 17, 2008.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues on appeal, and the Board has no jurisdiction to decide these benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The claim for PTSD was reopened but ultimately denied due to the lack of a valid diagnosis.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis is rated at 30 percent, while the other conditions remain non-compensable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left elbow disability, right shoulder disability, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The appeal for an increased rating for the left wrist disability was denied as the Veteran's current disability level did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for dizziness, a bilateral knuckle disorder, and a left wrist disorder as there was no evidence of these conditions during or after service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, right knee condition, lower back condition, and right wrist condition as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis in-service or post-service.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist disability, diabetes mellitus type I, and hepatitis C as these conditions were not attributable to the Veteran's active military service.

The case is remanded to address the appellant's basic eligibility for VA benefits and readjudicate his service connection claims.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for lumbosacral strain, and the Board found that a left knee disability and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were not related to active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for ganglion cyst of the left wrist and allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied service connection for left wrist disability, cramps in foot, and respiratory disability (bronchitis and/or asthma) as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent, and he is not entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for frostbite of the legs, frostbite of the left hand, degenerative joint disease of the hands (claimed as arthritis secondary to frostbite), back disorder, right carpal tunnel syndrome (claimed as arms condition secondary to frostbite), diffuse calcification, peripheral vascular disease, of the left radial and ulnar arteries (claimed as arms condition and circulatory problems secondary to frostbite), peripheral vascular disease of the legs (claimed as circulatory problems secondary to frostbite), and calcaneal spurs, degenerative joint disease, of the feet (claimed as secondary to frostbite).

The Veteran is entitled to a higher level of SMC compensation at a rate authorized pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(m), plus an intermediate level authorized under 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(f)(3).

The Board denied increased initial evaluations for various service-connected disabilities, except for a 20 percent evaluation for limitation of pronation of the left (major) elbow and an increased evaluation from 10 percent to 20 percent for shell fragment wounds, right (minor) forearm.