Wrist & hand decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his wrist disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions resulted in impairment of the upper or lower half of the radius or ulna, ankylosis, loss of pronation motion beyond the middle or last quarter of the arc, or loss of supination or pronation (bone fusion) with the hand fixed in supination or hyperpronation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, wrist, and elbow disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service that could be linked to the current conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and neck disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service. The claims for bilateral hand and fingers, wrist, and foot disabilities have been remanded due to incomplete evidence.

The Board denied service connection for ganglion cyst of the right wrist and right wrist neuritis due to a neuroma, finding that these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's left wrist fibroma and arthritis do not result in any compensable disability rating as there is no current impairment or symptoms attributable to the service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current residuals of heat stroke or chemical burns to his right forearm and wrist, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of a fractured left wrist was denied as there is no evidence that the VA treatment caused any additional disability.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his right wrist and left knee disabilities. The rating decision will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and multiple joint disorders, are found to be severe enough to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no medical evidence of chronic disabilities of the wrists, hands, fingers, shin splints, or hip pain. The Board found that the conditions did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Board granted a separate 30 percent evaluation for the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome, now diagnosed as upper right extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, as a manifestation of his service-connected chronic right shoulder strain with rhabdomylosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a kidney disorder and a right wrist disability, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities or chronic conditions related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected abdominal injury is not considered to have resulted in additional scarring of the wrists and arms. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his muscle group XIX injury was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right wrist disability and an initial rating of 30 percent for PTSD from January 7, 2005 through December 18, 2007. The Veteran's current right wrist condition is found to have onset in service or be related to his active military service. His PTSD symptoms are characterized by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied the appeal as the reduction of compensation benefits to 10 percent, effective April 24, 2006, due to incarceration for a felony conviction was proper.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have tendonitis of the shoulders, right wrist, knees, and ankles during service or within one year after separation. The current diagnoses are not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist strain and an anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified (with secondary dysthymia), both found to be related to ADT service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examination reports and opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the Board therefore dismisses the case.

The Veteran's multiple injuries, including bilateral wrist and forearm fractures, fractures of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th fingers, laceration of the knees, and laceration of the forehead, were not caused by an essential activity or function of his VA training program. The Board found that the accident occurred while he was riding a bicycle home from class, which is not part of the authorized activities.