Wrist & hand Board decisions

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and other disabilities are denied as there is no current evidence of a chronic disability to support the claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and bilateral knee disorder, including arthritis, were not incurred or aggravated during service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board found that the veteran's residuals of a left wrist fracture, which is her minor upper extremity, are manifested by no more than malunion of the radius with bad alignment and some limitation of motion with arthritis. The rating assigned remains at 10%.

The veteran's osteoarthritis of the spine, shoulders, hands, knees, wrists, hips, and right foot was found to be directly related to his service. The muscle pain and joint pain noted in his April 1991 examination are considered as part of this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, rheumatoid arthritis of the left wrist, right ankle, and left ankle. The initial evaluation for PTSD was not met, and there is no evidence of an active rheumatoid arthritis process or ankylosis in any joint.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected arthritis on his employability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's right wrist disability resulted from his military service and to obtain any available service medical records. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board found that the veteran's spinal disability, characterized as osteoarthritis of the cervical spine, is not related to his service. The veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was also not related to his service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The appeals for increased ratings were also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for low back pain, left ankle sprain, and hearing loss. The veteran did not have a current disability for these conditions as determined by VA examination and medical records.

The veteran's right elbow and wrist conditions are rated at the minimum level, while his hip/leg condition is not entitled to a higher rating.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 40 percent for synovitis of the right wrist, residuals of fracture carposcaphoid with ankylosis, and denied entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of the right hand.

The Board denied extensions of temporary total ratings and increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, finding that the veteran did not meet the criteria for extended convalescence or higher disability ratings.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his generalized anxiety disorder and right wrist disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for SMC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s) for the period from March 17, 1997 to April 30, 1998 due to lack of additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent and because he was not substantially confined as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's seizure disorder and wrist disability are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's right wrist disability warranted a 30 percent evaluation prior to December 1, 1999, and denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent from December 1, 1999, forward.

The veteran is seeking service connection for arthritis of his wrists and fingers, as well as ankles, secondary to his already service-connected degenerative arthritis of the back and knees. The VA has not obtained all relevant medical records from San Antonio VAMC and Frank Tejada clinic.

The veteran's claim for service connection for right wrist and chest disabilities resulting from gunshot wounds is being remanded to obtain additional service personnel records, including any line of duty determinations. The RO will then re-adjudicate the claims in light of all available evidence.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.