Wrist & hand decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not submit a timely substantive appeal with regard to his claims for service connection for various conditions. The RO denied these claims in April 2006, and the Veteran was notified of this decision on April 24, 2006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral wrist disability, bilateral knee disability, and PTSD. The issues were not about service connection at all as the appeal was based on a citation number rather than specific conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and residuals of tuberculosis exposure. The decision also addressed other issues such as bilateral shoulder and knee disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome, sacroiliac disorder, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's tendonitis of the left wrist and forearm is currently rated at 10 percent, which reflects the impairment in earning capacity.

The Veteran's left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling and has been increased to a 40 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his ability to work due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities, including right wrist tendonitis, asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Veteran is still entitled to the current evaluations assigned.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected right hand, wrist, and left lower leg shrapnel wounds are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a chronic disability of the left hand, wrist, and elbow is denied. The claim for PTSD is granted.

The Board found no evidence that the Veteran's left CTS was incurred in service or due to his service-connected right wrist disability. The claim for direct service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's vocational rehabilitation goal of employment as a paralegal is not reasonably achievable due to his service-connected disabilities and non-service-connected conditions, including mental health disorders.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal due to his withdrawal of claims in writing, which was deemed irrational at the time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on her right foot disability and hemorrhoids have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims. The effective date for a 20 percent rating for hemorrhoids has been granted as June 21, 2004.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were granted, with the exception of allergic rhinitis. The Veteran was awarded a 10 percent disability rating for low back strain with hip strain, a 40 percent rating for polycystic ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids, and an initial compensable rating for right foot scar.

The Board found that the Veteran's postoperative bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person was denied. However, he is eligible for special monthly pension by reason of being housebound due to his age over 65 and multiple disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, including any noise exposure therein. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his shrapnel wounds and stroke-related conditions, have significantly impacted his mobility. He is seeking specially adapted housing assistance and a special home adaptation grant to accommodate these needs.

The Veteran's claim for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only is denied as he does not meet the eligibility criteria set forth in VA regulations.