Wrist & hand decisions — 2010

The Board granted service connection for nerve damage of the right arm, shoulder, and upper back as secondary to service-connected left upper extremity disability. The effective date for TDIU was set at June 24, 1996.

The Board has reviewed the appellant's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, a cervical spine injury, and injuries to her right ankle and arm. The RO previously denied these claims in February 1998 and March 2000 due to lack of evidence linking the current conditions to military service. New evidence submitted since then does not raise a reasonable possibility of sustaining any of the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service treatment records are unavailable and remands his claims for service connection due to a lack of evidence. The Veteran is requested to provide information regarding medical treatment for the claimed disabilities since his discharge from service, including alternate sources such as VA military files or private medical providers.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and right wrist disability, as well as his requests for higher initial ratings for retropatellar pain syndrome of the left knee, bilateral shin splints, and thoracolumbar strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The issues include seeking increased ratings for various knee and hand conditions, as well as seeking service connection for hip conditions.

The Veteran's claims for left ankle, bilateral hand, and bilateral knee disorders were denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions. The Veteran was found to have normal hearing with tinnitus in his left ear, which does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's right shoulder acromioclavicular arthritis is rated at 10 percent. The claims for service connection of a prostate disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral wrist disorders are granted as new and material evidence has been received. The claim for service connection of the right elbow, low back, and left knee disorders remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's left wrist disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and left thumb tenosynovitis due to incomplete records and lack of proper examination regarding her Reserve service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of either foot or lower extremity, and the Board finds that his inability to walk without crutches is due to spinal conditions rather than a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran is not entitled to higher disability ratings or service connection based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed bilateral wrist or hand disorder, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected conditions were denied. The RO maintained the original ratings of 10 percent for GERD, right and left knee strains, lumbar strain, and right wrist tendinitis post excision of ganglion cyst.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were withdrawn, and the Board dismissed his claims for right foot fallen arch, bilateral trench foot, and numbness in the hands (claimed as bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination to assess the current severity of her right hip internal derangement and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The claims will be reviewed in light of any newly submitted evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for arthritis of the right wrist, right knee, and lumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and PTSD have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals.

The Board has granted a rating of 50 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressive symptoms, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist was initially rated at 10 percent prior to August 27, 2004. From that date, a higher rating is not warranted. For his left wrist, he received a 10 percent initial rating which has been maintained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout of the bilateral wrists and ankles have been denied by the RO.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his right wrist disability was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition warranted a higher rating.