Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board denied an increased rating for service-connected residuals of fractures of both wrists, prior to March 2002, as the evidence did not show dorsiflexion limited to less than 15 degrees or palmar flexion limited in line with the forearm.

The Board has granted initial non-compensable evaluations for the veteran's service-connected post-operative carpal tunnel release of both wrists, effective January 8, 2003.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have service connection for hearing loss, right ankle injury, right wrist sprain, tinnitus, left knee chondromalacia, serous otitis media, or cyst of the right testicle. The evaluation for lumbosacral strain is 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist disorder in June 1997, finding that the evidence did not show a present disorder was related to service. The veteran's claim has been reopened with new evidence submitted since then, but this evidence does not meet the criteria of being 'new and material' as it is cumulative or redundant.

The veteran's appeal was denied for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals, left wrist fracture. Service connection for PTSD and a gunshot wound to the chest were also denied. The claim to reopen service connection for head injury, right ankle disorder, and back disorder was not granted due to lack of new and material evidence.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left wrist disability, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right wrist injury and back injury are not related to service, with the exception of a secondary relationship for the right wrist injury. The claims have been denied.

The Board found no current right wrist, Achilles tendonitis, or PTSD disabilities and denied the veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected right wrist condition does not warrant a compensable rating. For his claim of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, the evidence did not establish chronicity during service and continuity after discharge, leading to denial.

The veteran's service-connected ulnar nerve entrapment of the right elbow is rated as noncompensably disabling prior to August 30, 2001, and 10 percent disabling from that date. The veteran's service-connected status post carpal tunnel release is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The veteran's residuals of a right ankle injury, ganglion cyst of the right wrist, hemorrhoids, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted initial evaluations. The right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent disabling since January 27, 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's calcific tendonitis of the left wrist is more likely than not related to his duties in service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist began during service. Service connection for this disability is granted.

The Board denied an increase in a 20 percent rating for the veteran's left wrist disability and left elbow lateral epicondylitis, finding that the current ratings were appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have been granted effective from August 11, 1970.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and an increased rating for his healed fracture, carpal navicular bone, left wrist with traumatic arthritis. The veteran did not have a current disability related to service or any incident during active duty.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected residual of scar, right wrist does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable diagnostic codes due to lack of ulceration, tenderness, underlying soft tissue loss, and full range of motion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left wrist and right knee, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his residuals of a fractured left wrist, finding that the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected right wrist fusion, finding that the current rating adequately reflects his disability.