Wrist & hand decisions — 2009

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is considered to be incurred in active duty due to combat noise exposure. The Veteran also has a service-connected bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, which the Board finds more likely related to his diabetes mellitus type II with hypertension and erectile dysfunction.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is not related to his service, including as due to undiagnosed illness or a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The appellant's service was less than 90 days, and he was not discharged for a disability incurred in or aggravated by service. Therefore, he does not have basic eligibility for VA pension benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including records from Social Security Administration and VA physical therapy records.

The Board found that the Veteran was not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to June 4, 2002 and denied an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for a right ankle sprain and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome as there is no competent evidence of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen several service connection claims, but the specific evaluations for these conditions remain unchanged.

The Board determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of his left wrist or right third (or fourth) finger, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of Valley Fever, finding that the clinical findings in the Veteran's lungs detected in 1977 and present in 2008 are the residuals of infection that was the result of exposure to coccidioides imitis (Valley Fever) during active service. The heart condition and arthritis claims remain pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right wrist and back disorders, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral wrist and hand disability (carpal tunnel syndrome), bilateral knee disability, and arthritis. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for right wrist fracture residuals, finding that no new and material evidence had been received.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions, including hepatitis C, abdominal disability, head injury/concussion, eye injury/abrasion, black widow spider bite, and asbestos exposure-related disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 30 percent for his service-connected paralysis of the right radial nerve, and denied an increased rating for his degenerative joint disease of the right wrist.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left knee trauma and degenerative joint disease, right shoulder bursitis, and right wrist fracture and limitation of motion are denied as the evidence does not support a higher evaluation under applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic right ankle, wrist, or shoulder disorder during service or for many years thereafter. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and whether referral for extraschedular consideration may be warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the head, Hodgkin's disease, and disabilities of the skull, brain, head, wrists, left arm, hips, prostate, pelvis, and liver. The Board found no current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, left wrist strain residuals, neck strain residuals, and bilateral shin splints were denied. The Board found the Veteran's statements regarding her stressor to be not credible.