Wrist & hand Board decisions

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found no evidence of an increase in severity during service and insufficient medical evidence to support a finding that the current disabilities are related to service.

The veteran's service-connected left wrist scars were granted a 10% rating effective October 22, 2002. The Board found that the earlier effective dates for service connection and increased rating are not warranted.

The veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, and his recurrent ganglion cyst on the right wrist is also rated at 10 percent. The RO has granted both claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shin splints, a right hand/wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The evidence does not support these claims.

The veteran withdrew his appeals, and the Board dismissed the case.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left wrist ganglion cyst removal residual scar was denied. The Board found that the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the functional limitations and non-deep nature of the scar.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for actinic keratosis, right shoulder condition, and bilateral wrist condition. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Board denied service connection for synovitis of the ankles and right wrist because there is no current disability. Increased ratings were not granted for postoperative left knee chondromalacia patella (currently rated at 20%), left knee degenerative joint disease, or right knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative joint disease.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected right ulnar dysesthesia and residuals of a right wrist fracture, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left wrist disorder is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various shoulder, back, wrist, and cervical spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chest pain, hypoglycemia, carpal tunnel syndrome (right upper extremity), a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, a cervical spine disorder, and a lumbar spine disorder. The Board also found that left carpel tunnel syndrome is not related to service.

The veteran has been granted service connection for residual scarring from a right wrist ganglion cyst, as well as bilateral shoulder disabilities including arthritis and rotator cuff syndrome.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in a permanent need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status, thus denying her claim for special monthly compensation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Bell's palsy and a right wrist disorder, as well as his claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral tinnitus. The RO granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus but assigned only a single 10% disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's headaches and right hand disability (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome) are not related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The VA denied service connection for a right ankle and foot disability, as well as bilateral knee disabilities. The veteran's right wrist condition was diagnosed but the claim is still pending.

The veteran's ulnar neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand are rated at 50 percent, while his left hand is rated at 40 percent. Both conditions are considered to be due to service-connected injuries.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected foot and spine disabilities do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent or a compensable rating for his left foot disability, based on the evidence showing no significant functional impairment.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for left wrist arthritis and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and providing VCAA notice.