Wrist & hand Board decisions

The veteran's disabilities do not result in the need for regular personal assistance or protection from daily hazards, thus he is not entitled to special monthly pension benefits based on aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The decision on the low back disorder is based on continuity of symptomatology during and after service, while the denial of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is due to lack of clear evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Board found that the appellant's right median nerve entrapment neuropathy at the wrist level (carpal tunnel syndrome) is not related to his military service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has denied all service connection claims except for the reopened claim for a psychiatric disability. The veteran's other claims were not granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left wrist injury, finding no current disability and thus no basis for granting such. The decision dismissed his appeal.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The claim of entitlement to an increased rating for his right wrist disability remains viable on appeal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of a chronic acquired disorder of the right wrist. The appeal is now remanded to the RO for further action.

The veteran's claims for service connection were all granted, with the exception of those concerning a bilateral hand and wrist disability.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 17, 1999 for a Total Disability Evaluation for Compensation Purposes Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The veteran's claim was pending since July 12, 1998 and the RO initially granted TDIU retroactively to that date.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's ganglion cyst of the right wrist, finding that the current evaluation of 10 percent is the maximum possible due to limitation of motion without ankylosis.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the original ratings of 30% and 20% for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left wrists, respectively, should be November 16, 2001. The issues regarding service connection for other disabilities remain unresolved.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected left wrist fracture, finding that his disability did not warrant a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ring finger, long finger and wrist disorders and an increased rating for his right knee disability. The Board found no competent or objective medical evidence of current diagnoses related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed left arm disability and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and benefits due to lack of evidence showing a claim prior to September 9, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for residuals of an injury to the right wrist and hand, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected postoperative residuals of a right wrist injury, currently rated at 40 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left wrist fracture, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left wrist fracture with ankylosis warrants a 40 percent rating, which is higher than the current 30 percent evaluation.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected right wrist wound and disfiguring scars, finding that there was no evidence of exceptional disability or new evidence warranting reopening.