Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected left wrist disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for such an increase.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for musculoskeletal chest pain disorder, post-operative residuals of a left wrist ganglion cyst excision, and chronic right ankle sprain. The RO granted service connection for mixed tension vascular headaches, lumbosacral strain, cervical spine degenerative changes with muscle strain symptoms, and right knee retropatellar femoral pain syndrome.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right upper extremity disability, including his right wrist synovitis, is related to service and not due to Agent Orange exposure or any other presumptive basis. The claim for a skin disorder will be addressed separately.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right wrist fracture residuals, finding that the current rating of 40 percent adequately reflects the severity and functional impairment of his condition.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected right forearm tendonitis, effective from July 1, 1997.

The veteran's right shoulder and left wrist disabilities have been rated at the minimum (10%) level, with no evidence of additional disability warranting a higher rating.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective from October 19, 2001. The claim for a compensable rating for his left wrist condition remains denied.

The veteran's right thumb symptoms, including numbness and pain, were determined to be the result of scar tissue accumulating around the third digital nerve branches due to her 1997 VA surgery. The proximate cause was deemed not reasonably foreseeable.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a respiratory disorder, skin rash, hair loss, otitis externa, tinnitus, inguinal lymph node hyperplasia, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and a psychiatric disorder. The veteran's claims were not well grounded.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist and right shoulder disability, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's claims for hepatitis C, arthritis of multiple joints and back, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and gout were denied as they are not considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim for PTSD was remanded but no new evidence has been provided.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected left wrist disability, involving Muscle Group VII, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's current carpal tunnel syndrome on the left was not incurred in service and is not related to her period of service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome on the left was denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's right wrist disability warrants a 10 percent evaluation prior to September 30, 1999.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a left wrist laceration with radial nerve damage, effective from May 13, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected post-operative fusion at C5-6 with arthritis and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The evaluation for post-operative fusion was maintained at 40 percent from May 19, 1990 to October 7, 1993, and increased to 20 percent from May 19, 1990. The evaluation for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with left L2-4 radiculopathy was maintained at 40 percent from October 7, 1993.

The Board has granted increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected left wrist fracture and compression fracture of T12 to L1, both rated at 20 percent. The veteran's conditions are manifested by pain, swelling, decreased motion, and additional functional impairment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following gainful employment since September 20, 1999. The RO granted entitlement to TDIU effective March 13, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the knees, feet, shoulders, and wrists, finding no evidence that these conditions are related to his military service.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his right wrist fracture, currently rated at 10 percent. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion.