Wrist & hand decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist is related to her military service and grants her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, characterized by pain and limited motion, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and civilian provider treatment records related to his service-connected neurological conditions.

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is currently evaluated at a 10% rating, which the Board finds to be appropriate given the mild symptoms and functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining vocational rehabilitation records and scheduling an examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board found no evidence of a pre-existing condition for the claimed disabilities and concluded that they were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected prostatitis and left wrist condition, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation or reopening of his right hand/wrist injury claim.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, characterized by painful motion with arthritis and malunion of the radius, has been rated at 10 percent since May 3, 1995. The Board granted a separate grant of service connection for residuals of right wrist fracture, malunion of the ulna with bad alignment, effective from May 7, 2008. From May 4, 2009, he was also granted a separate grant of service connection for residuals of right wrist fracture, severe median neuropathy (ulnar nerve paralysis).

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a compensation and pension examination to assess the current severity of his left wrist disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities were denied. The evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current manifestations of his conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's attempts to reopen his claims for service connection for right wrist arthritis and chondromalacia of the right knee with patellofemoral pain syndrome, as well as his claim for service connection for hepatitis C. The rating for hepatitis B remains unchanged.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for his left wrist fracture will be reconsidered based on the updated evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates related to his service-connected SFW residuals of the left wrist, forearm, elbow, and ankle. The appeal is dismissed due to lack of evidence showing CUE in the February 1970 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a right wrist disability, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition worsened during his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for flat feet is dismissed due to his withdrawal. The right wrist disability was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and SSA records. The VA will then re-evaluate the claims based on the new evidence.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD; residuals of a right wrist injury; and sinusitis. The Board finds that further examination is needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn regarding the right total knee replacement. The claims for increased ratings of his right wrist and low back disabilities were not granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's left elbow and right wrist disabilities do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes, thus denying his claims.

The Veteran's initial claim of a higher rating for diabetes mellitus prior to January 1, 2007 was denied. The reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent in October 2006 was upheld. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy and hemangiomas were not granted.