Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining medical records. The veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, compensation benefits, and unemployability are pending.

The VA denied increased ratings for arthritis of the left wrist, finding that the condition warranted a maximum rating of 20 percent since August 19, 2002.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome with deQuervain's tendonitis of the right and left upper extremities are being remanded to allow for a new VA examination.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and he is now service-connected for carpal tunnel syndrome.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right wrist fracture.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for a broken right wrist due to the veteran's withdrawal of his appeal. The issue of an increased disability rating for PTSD remains in appellate status.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for the veteran's residuals of Darrach procedure, right wrist, effective July 8, 2002.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for knee injuries and wrist strain, as well as incomplete evaluations of left shin fracture residuals. The RO is instructed to obtain additional medical records, arrange for a VA examination, and consider staged ratings if appropriate.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, hypertension, a low back disorder, a left wrist disorder, and a bilateral hip disorder. The Board found no evidence of chronic conditions in service or current disabilities related to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis-B, hepatitis-C, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and otitis externa of the left ear. The appeals were based on direct evidence from service records.

The Board found no current diagnosed disorders of the right arm, wrist, or hand and concluded that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for these disabilities.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the veteran's claimed disabilities and to consider both old and new criteria for evaluating respiratory disorders. The case is being remanded to the RO for these purposes.

The veteran's claim for compensation benefits for additional disability of the right upper extremity resulting from VA surgery and treatment in 1974 was denied as there is no evidence that his current conditions are related to the 1974 surgery.

The veteran's claims for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left and right upper extremities were denied as they are not service-connected.

The veteran seeks service connection for left hand neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, and polycystic ovary disease. She also requests an increased evaluation for her ganglionectomy residuals. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his left wrist condition, finding that his symptoms were manifested by limited range of motion and pain on testing, but no significant arthritic changes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, and a bilateral wrist condition due to lack of competent medical evidence supporting these conditions.

The veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the inextricability of his carpal tunnel syndrome claim, which he also seeks service connection for as secondary to his right ulnar nerve disorder. The RO must adjudicate both claims together.

The veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints are denied.