Wrist & hand decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right wrist disability and for additional treatment records from the Palo Alto VAMC.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule VA examinations for his claimed conditions due to the failure of VA to schedule him during times he was available.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, including post-traumatic arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, has been rated at 70 percent disabling. The Veteran also meets the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of his right hand.

The Veteran's residuals of a left wrist fracture are manifested by pain, stiffness, popping, and tenderness with flare-ups. The VA examiner found that the Veteran has dorsiflexion limited to 70 degrees, palmar flexion limited to 80 degrees, radial deviation limited to 30 degrees, and ulnar deviation limited to 45 degrees. Based on these findings, an initial compensable rating of 10 percent is granted.

The Board found that a chronic right wrist disability was not manifested in service, and the current right wrist disability is not otherwise related to service or to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including carcinoma of the liver, COPD, lumbar spondylosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, varicose veins, and weakness of the legs. The decision also addressed nonservice-connected pension and special monthly pension claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the malfunction of the recording device during his previous hearing. He wishes for another hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at his local RO.

The Board has determined that the February 1980 rating decision denying service connection for a right arm and wrist disorder is final. The Veteran's claim of new and material evidence to reopen his nervous disorder claim was denied, but the issue of CUE in the February 1980 rating decision regarding his right arm and wrist condition has been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic left hand/wrist disability did not have its onset during active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder arthritis, left hand arthritis, bilateral wrist arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis and bilateral hip arthritis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's left wrist disability has been rated at 10 percent since October 1, 2007. The condition is manifested by limited motion and pain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the bilateral upper extremities is related to service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's original claim for service connection was received on December 4, 2003. The Board finds that the earliest date entitlement arose is November 2004 when he was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity. Therefore, an effective date of December 4, 2003, for the grant of service connection is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including those related to his cervical and lumbar spine conditions. The appeals were based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial evaluations for his service-connected inguinal hernia, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome. The evidence did not show that the conditions warranted a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His left wrist disability was rated based on limitation of motion, with no ankylosis noted. Service connection for a back disability was raised but not addressed.

The Veteran's appeal involves the initial rating for left carpal tunnel syndrome and an increased rating for tinea pedis. The RO has granted service connection but denied a compensable rating for both conditions in August 2007. The Board is remanding the case to obtain updated VA examinations, as well as any outstanding treatment records from Fayetteville VAMC.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining vocational rehabilitation records and clarifying his disability retirement status.

The Veteran's service-connected fibrocartilage ligament tear of the right wrist has approximated the functional equivalent of ankylosis in a position other than favorable (favorable is between 20 and 30 degrees of dorsiflexion), but has not been productive of ankylosis fixed in any degree of palmar flexion, ulnar deviation, nor radial deviation. The Veteran's right wrist disability warrants a rating of 10 percent.