Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of a left (dominant) wrist fracture, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is granted with a 10% evaluation. Service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome is granted.

The veteran's service-connected right wrist and forearm disability was granted an effective date of April 2, 1999 for his carpal tunnel syndrome. His other service-connected condition, residuals of a fractured right radius and wrist with deformity of the wrist and forearm and traumatic arthritis, was granted an effective date of September 27, 2000.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for hypertension and left wrist disability due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his service-connected conditions and his current health issues. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted, with the exception of conjunctivitis. The left elbow disability is found to be related to service and rated at 20 percent. Other conditions are also found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, low back disorder (previously characterized as developmental anomaly of the lumbar spine), hypertension, edema of the feet, ankles, hands, abdomen, and face, diabetes mellitus, abnormal laboratory findings, fibromyalgia, lupus, multiple sclerosis, liver disability (to include cirrhosis), respiratory (lung) disability, osteoarthritis of the major and minor joints, eye disability, tremors of the upper extremities, carpal tunnel syndrome, Meniere's syndrome, headaches with dizziness, nausea, and lightheadedness, chronic Candida, low back pain with pain radiating into the hips (previously characterized as developmental anomaly of the lumbar spine), an acquired hamstring disorder, an acquired bilateral hip disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, and a bilateral elbow disorder. However, service connection is not established for any of these conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disorder, but denied the claims for initial ratings of 10 percent for a right wrist ganglion cyst and a non-compensable rating for a right shoulder lipoma.

The Board found that the veteran's right wrist disability, manifested by pain and limited motion but without severe incomplete paralysis of the radial nerve on the major side, does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings have been granted, with the exception of his claim for a scar from an excision of a cyst on the right thigh. The other conditions and issues were all granted.

The VA has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected right wrist fracture, effective from the date of the decision.

The VA has denied the veteran's requests for increased disability ratings for his service-connected residuals of bilateral wrist fractures and carpal tunnel syndrome. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation based on current functional impairment.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues are dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has determined that there is no current medical evidence of a right wrist disorder, bilateral heel disorder, or right elbow bursitis. Therefore, the claims for service connection for these conditions have been denied.

The Board found no current diagnoses of the claimed conditions and thus denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, residuals of a recurrent ganglion cyst of the left wrist, and a respiratory disorder manifested by shortness of breath.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to a fractured right wrist sustained while playing basketball during drug rehabilitation at a VA medical facility.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is service-connected, and his PTSD is rated at 30 percent. The other issues are addressed in the remand portion of this decision.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the 10 percent rating assigned for fracture of the right wrist with degenerative joint disease. The case has been remanded to ensure proper VCAA compliance and additional development.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his employability and conducting VA examinations.

The Board found that the veteran's arthritis of the right knee, both hands, wrists, and cervical and lumbar spine is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 10 percent disabling.,Service connection for allergic reactions, memory loss, joint pain, headaches, skin rash, fatigue, and sexual dysfunction (attributed to PTSD) was denied.