Wrist & hand decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for service connection for flat feet, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and assigned an initial 20 percent rating effective July 24, 2008. The Veteran's claims for tendinitis of the right wrist and low back disorder were also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis of the right hand and wrist is service-connected, as it was caused by an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of her service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome and elbow ligament damage have been granted, with the effective date set at October 9, 2007.

The Veteran's initial ratings for various conditions have been granted and assigned. The effective dates are not specified.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is less than the required 70% to warrant a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the right wrist and granted a noncompensable rating for right knee internal derangement. The propriety of recoupment of special separation benefits was also addressed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left upper extremity neuropathy, left wrist DJD, and bilateral hearing loss. The initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was confirmed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a personal hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's appeal of the rating for chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes was withdrawn prior to a decision by the Board. The appeals for increased ratings for right wrist disability and for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's CTS of the right wrist is rated as 10 percent disabling, and his arthritis of the right knee and lumbar spine are each rated at 10 percent since April 16, 2004. The effective date for these ratings is April 16, 2004.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome was dismissed because he did not file a timely substantive appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are found to preclude substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected scars on the dorsum of the left hand and on the right wrist over the distal radius do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete development. He needs VA examinations for prostatitis, lumbar spine condition, and right wrist condition.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's left wrist disability, effective from October 23, 2008. The Veteran's condition was characterized by ankylosis at 0 degrees extension.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral wrist disability, to include chronic strain and ganglion cysts, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis was denied. The effective date of the deconstructed ratings remains March 31, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no competent medical evidence showing that any of the claimed conditions had their onset in service or within one year after discharge.