Wrist & hand decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are so disabling as to prevent him from dressing himself and frequently adjusting his special orthopedic appliance without aid, meeting the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is currently rated at 50 percent, and his left ulnar neuropathy is rated at 30 percent. The claim for service connection for hypotension has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new examinations to evaluate her service-connected major depressive disorder, migraine headaches, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of degenerative disc disease L4-5, right hip pain, or right wrist disorder that is related to his military service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DDD and DJD of the lumbar spine, as well as his carpal tunnel syndrome of the upper extremities, are not related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including shin splints as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus and psychiatric disorders. The effective date of these grants is not specified.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left thumb and left wrist injuries were granted in full by the RO in February 2011, making these issues moot.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a gynecological examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his left wrist disability and evaluate its impact on his employability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim as the appellant is deceased.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and issuing a Statement of the Case on the issue of service connection for a kidney disorder. The Veteran's claims for hypertension and LUE carpal tunnel syndrome remain pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his active duty service and have denied all of his claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is not granted any initial ratings as his claims are being returned to the RO/AMC for further consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is granted with a rating of 20 percent effective July 17, 2008. The ratings for varicose veins in both lower extremities and chondrocalcinosis of the left knee are denied. The Veteran's residual scar from the excision of a cyst on his wrist is also granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it is related to his in-service exposure to loud noises.,There are no disabling residuals of the left wrist contusion reported in service or post-service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left arm soft tissue injury, fracture of the left wrist, and ulnar neuropathy of the left upper extremity. The Veteran's claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence, and his current conditions are not related to active service.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 10 percent for the service-connected right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that it more nearly approximates mild incomplete paralysis of the median nerve.

The Veteran's facial scars, left wrist muscle injury, right shoulder and neck muscle injury, left foot scar, left wrist scar, right knee scar, right lower extremity scar, and right ankle scar are all rated at 30 percent each.,Service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of May 22, 2009. Service connection for neuralgia of the left foot was also granted but without a specific effective date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and a right wrist/hand disability were granted with an effective date of April 25, 2002. The claim for hypertension was reopened and granted. The August 2003 rating decision that granted these disabilities contained clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in assigning the effective date.