Wrist & hand decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claim for postoperative residuals of a left knee injury and to increase his rating for a scar residual of a left wrist injury. The TDIU claim is being remanded due to its interdependence with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's memory loss, headaches, and cysts have been granted service connection. Memory loss is due to undiagnosed illness, while the other conditions are associated with PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of an adverse reaction to a typhoid vaccination has been withdrawn. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for the right ankle disability and service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings for PTSD, chronic low back disorder, and right wrist status post open reduction internal fixation of ulnar fracture. The appeals were not granted as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome (right hand) and to determine whether he has CTS of the left hand that is related to military service. The RO must also consider whether staged ratings are warranted and whether extra-schedular consideration is appropriate.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The RO found that the current evaluations were appropriate, and no new evidence was submitted to reopen previously denied claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected fracture of the left distal scaphoid/spontaneous rupture of flexor carpi radialis was granted, with a 20% disability evaluation effective January 6, 2006. Service connection for right Dupuytren's contracture and carpal tunnel syndrome as secondary to her service-connected left wrist disorder was also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as they have a mild to significant effect on his employability but do not make it impossible for him to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist scar is rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of claim. A temporary total rating based on convalescence following his December 2006 surgery was denied as it must be denied by operation of law.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, which is manifested by unfavorable ankylosis and loss of grip strength due to repetitive use, meets the criteria for a 50 percent evaluation. The Board has determined that this condition warrants a higher rating than the current 40 percent assigned.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, heart disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities. The Veteran's current back condition is not due to or related to in-service disease or injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for the residuals of bilateral ankle sprain and left wrist injury (claimed as 'weak wrists') have been denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic disabilities in service or at any time thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, right ankle injury, gastrointestinal condition, non-union of the scaphoid (right wrist), right hand and finger condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and sleep apnea were all denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including an updated VA examination and consideration of the issues raised.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected residuals of right wrist fracture and scar are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient medical evidence linking the Veteran's current wrist conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right wrist disability, deviated septum, and retention cyst of the left antrum were denied. The RO assigned a 20 percent rating for the right wrist disability under DC 5211.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, characterized by mild degenerative changes and limited motion, does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to August 21, 2009. The RO increased his evaluation to 10 percent effective from August 21, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from various medical facilities and service personnel records. The appellant's right shoulder and arm disability will be evaluated based on whether it had its clinical onset in service or is otherwise related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that hyperlipidemia is not a disability for VA compensation purposes and thus cannot be granted.