Wrist & hand decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), left hand disability, and left wrist disability were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria for hearing loss or arthritis, and the medical evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including radiation exposure, hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, arthritis, left shoulder pain, hand pain, wrist pain, low back pain, and ankle pain. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left elbow bursitis and a left wrist cyst, but denied service connection for a left shoulder disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses of left elbow bursitis and left wrist cyst are considered to be at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death. The respiratory disorder was not related to his service and he died from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a qualifying chronic disability for left ankle or left wrist, and his claimed disabilities are not related to service. The claims for increased ratings for cervical spine, left shoulder, right knee, left knee, right ring finger, GERD with hiatal hernia, left inguinal hernia, left orchiectomy, and right epididymal cyst have been addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral wrist disability is being remanded due to insufficient development and the need for additional medical examination.

The VA denied the Veteran's request for a higher initial rating for her service-connected right wrist disability (other than scars and associated neurological impairment), as the 10 percent rating is considered the maximum schedular evaluation allowed for loss of motion.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and needs to obtain service treatment records, emergency room records, and any other relevant medical records. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, cervical spine disability, right ankle strain, left wrist cyst, and bronchial asthma will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to his period of active duty from October 1961 to October 2, 1965.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated, and the Board has determined that a higher disability rating is not warranted for any of his claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a right wrist fracture is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examination and treatment records, as well as consideration of whether he qualifies for TDIU.

Effective from February 18, 2005, the Veteran is granted a 10 percent disability rating for neurological symptomatology to include carpal tunnel syndrome as a residual of service-connected ganglion cyst of the right wrist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including left wrist disability, right carpal tunnel syndrome with extensor tendonitis (claimed as right wrist disability), muscle deterioration with pain and aches, bilateral foot disability, tinea pedis, bilateral shoulder disability, and allergic rhinitis, sinus problems and sinusitis, were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and increased ratings for residuals of a fractured right wrist and history of tinea cruris/pedis (claimed as jungle rot) were denied. The Veteran was not shown to have PTSD due to in-service events, and his current disabilities did not meet the criteria for compensable initial or higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant and financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment have not been met.

The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity cervical radiculopathy and sinusitis have been evaluated as 10 percent disabling, with no higher ratings granted. The Veteran's right and left upper extremities were found to be mild in severity throughout the relevant periods.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle, and neck disorders are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected residuals of left wrist, distal radius fracture do not warrant a compensable rating based on current symptomatology.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current left wrist/hand disability attributable to service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a right wrist fracture was denied. The Board found that the current range of motion in the wrist is within normal limits, with dorsiflexion to 70 degrees and palmar flexion to 80 degrees.