Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a right wrist fracture, collectively producing impairment equivalent to severe incomplete paralysis of the ulnar nerve, meet the criteria for a 40 percent rating.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's right wrist disorder, finding that the current 10 percent rating adequately compensates his symptoms.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation for low back syndrome, but granted compensable evaluations for dry skin of the feet.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected right wrist disability and for an extraschedular rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.321 for arthritis of the right wrist, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic low back disorder and the residuals of a left wrist fracture. The claim for infectious hepatitis was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's service-connected right wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current functional impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right wrist disability warrants a 20 percent evaluation, reflecting limitation of motion with pain on use.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of fractures of the right wrist and left ankle have been granted, with a 10 percent evaluation assigned for each condition.

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for right wrist scaphoid fracture and right fifth metacarpal fracture, finding that these conditions were incurred during active military service.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including residuals of cold injury and arthritis, were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The claims are denied.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a fractured right wrist have primarily consisted of pain on radial deviation, stiffness, weakness, crepitus, fatigue on use, limitation of motion, and flare-ups during bad weather. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent were not met.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an increased rating for his service-connected gunshot wound to the left wrist with retained foreign bodies, muscle group VII, finding that the disability is appropriately rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and finds no evidence to support service connection for any of them.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have carpal tunnel syndrome on the left, a stomach ulcer, or sinus disability/lymphadenopathy that were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status since December 1, 1999.

The Board granted secondary service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist and increased the rating to 20 percent effective from September 10, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for postoperative residuals of carpal tunnel syndrome and a temporary total rating beyond May 31, 1998 due to convalescence from surgery. The evidence did not show more than moderate impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left carpal tunnel syndromes do not warrant higher disability ratings as they are currently evaluated.

The Board has granted a 10 percent initial rating for degenerative arthritis of both knees, wrists and hands.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right wrist and shoulder disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his active service, nor are they related to a service-connected condition. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.