Wrist & hand Board decisions

The veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disorders, tension headaches, left wrist strain, and lipoma of the right shoulder were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to active duty or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code due to his employment history and lack of an identifiable employment handicap caused by service-connected disabilities.

The VA denied an increased rating for residuals of surgery to remove a ganglion cyst from the left wrist, finding that the veteran's condition did not meet criteria for higher ratings based on functional impairment or limitation of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's disabilities and assigned initial ratings. The veteran is seeking higher initial ratings, but the evidence does not support such increases.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the right wrist disability effective from April 5, 2002. The veteran's right middle finger disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran's gout and gouty arthritis of the hands, feet, patellar tendons, and wrists are service-connected. The secondary service connection claims for sleep apnea, headaches, and diabetes mellitus related to service-connected coronary artery disease and hypertension have been denied.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a shrapnel wound to the left hip, as there is no competent evidence that the veteran currently has such disability.,Service connection was also denied for PTSD. The Board found that the veteran did not have credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing current disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right hand and wrist injury, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's left knee and right wrist disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which was aggravated by his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder. However, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are denied as the veteran did not meet the criteria for continuous total disability rating.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has ordered another VA examination to evaluate the veteran's right wrist scar and determine if it is separate from his wrist movement pain. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, and cardiac arrhythmia secondary to hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist injury with carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as a compensable disability rating for postoperative residuals of a ganglion cyst. The claim was reopened based on new evidence received since the April 1993 decision.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus does not require insulin or the regulation of activities, and thus a higher rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of various joints and a compensable evaluation for rheumatic heart disease, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty or any service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for essential hypertension and residuals of a left wrist fracture, finding that his conditions do not warrant higher ratings based on the evidence of record.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, bilateral leg disorders, and gastroenteritis. The case is being remanded to allow consideration of additional evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any identified disabilities.