Wrist & hand decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral arm, hand, elbow, and wrist disorder, including carpal tunnel syndrome and epicondylitis, is related to her active duty service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for residuals of a fracture of the left fourth toe and a left wrist disability, including tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. The Board has remanded these claims due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteopenia have been evaluated based on their combined effect. The claims for higher initial ratings for various joints are denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder and found that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims of service connection for back and left wrist disorders. The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is deemed to be related to his active duty, while the back and left wrist disorders are considered to have developed due to pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and ankle disabilities have been denied. Claims for bilateral hearing loss, hip disability, knee disability, and left shoulder impingement syndrome are pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right thumb, left ear hearing loss, and left wrist ganglion cyst are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis, claimed as swollen and painful joints to include the hands, wrists, elbows, neck, back, hips, and knees. The Veteran's joint pain during active duty is considered a sufficient basis for granting this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected right wrist disability.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not attributable to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and wrist disorders, as well as his increased rating claim and TDIU request. The effective date of service connection for depressive disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate his skin disorder, bilateral wrist disorder, bilateral hand disorder, and neck disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the June 4, 1985 rating decision did not contain CUE in assigning an initial noncompensable disability rating for residuals of a left tibial fracture with osteoarthritic changes and chronic chondromalacia of the knee. The denial was based on the evidence showing no functional limitations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder, right wrist, and left wrist conditions have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hand/wrist disability is not etiologically related to service or any incident therein, including as secondary to his service-connected left lower extremity and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome warrants a rating of 10 percent, as it is not more than mild in nature and does not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the January 1966 rating decision denying service connection for residuals of nonunited fracture of the right wrist was not a clear and unmistakable error, as there was no evidence showing an intercurrent injury or worsening during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of either hand, as defined by VA regulations. Therefore, he is not entitled to special monthly compensation or automobile financial assistance and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 60 percent, which does not meet the criteria for TDIU on a schedular basis. The Director of Compensation and Pension Service determined that the Veteran is not entitled to TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to his incarceration.

The Board denied the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there was no evidence showing its onset during active duty and concluding that it is not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the right shoulder degenerative joint disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the left shoulder injury to include acromioclavicular joint calcifications did not warrant an initial rating in excess of 30 percent prior to January 13, 2003, from 40 percent after that date, or for a wrist ganglion cyst or thumb injury.