Wrist & hand Board decisions

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were partially granted. The rating for psoriasis with eczema craquele was increased to 30% from May 11, 2000. The rating for right CTS and left ankle sprain remained at noncompensable (10%) levels. The veteran's claim for an increased rating of her left CTS was granted.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's right wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for service connection, but the Board finds that no such effective date is warranted due to the finality of prior decisions and lack of evidence indicating a claim was filed during the relevant period.

The Board found that the April 1958 decision denying service connection for a right wrist disability was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, as the pre-existing condition worsened during service.

The VA determined that the veteran's right wrist fracture residuals do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected disabilities of the right shoulder, left wrist, right ankle, and both knees. The RO also granted a noncompensable evaluation for his bilateral foot disorder.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional right wrist and hand disability, but denied the claim as there is no evidence showing that current right wrist or hand disability resulted from VA hospitalization or medical treatment received in September 1949 to March 1950.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left hand condition, currently shown as carpal tunnel syndrome, finding no evidence of a nexus between his active duty service and the current diagnosis.

The veteran's initial claim for an evaluation of left testicle torsion was granted, but he is denied service connection for other claimed conditions. The Board found no medical evidence linking the in-service complaints and injuries to current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the December 1990 decision is not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disorder.

The veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his right wrist tendonitis, traumatic cataract of the right eye (from October 16, 1991 through November 19, 2000), and a right knee disability were denied. The initial 10% evaluation for right wrist tendonitis was upheld, while the 30% evaluation for the right eye condition from November 20, 2000 to the present is also upheld.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a combined rating of 30 percent, with separate ratings for each disability. The issues of entitlement to extra-schedular ratings have been addressed and are pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left wrist fracture, finding that it was not caused or worsened by his service-connected disability of the left tibia.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The right carpal tunnel syndrome, numbness of the right hand, and lumps in the left breast are not considered to be due to an undiagnosed illness or exposure to a specific environment. Sinusitis is also denied.

The veteran's claimed right wrist disability and skin conditions were not found to be service-connected or due to undiagnosed illness in the Persian Gulf War. The Board denied these claims.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for neuroma and degenerative joint disease of the right wrist, finding that neither condition warranted a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected residuals of a right thumb and wrist injury, finding that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has found that the October 1974 rating decision assigning a 10 percent rating for residuals of a left wrist fracture was clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The correct rating should have been a 20 percent rating based on nonunion of the ulna, effective June 21, 1974. Effective dates prior to September 24, 1990, and April 22, 1997, for service connection are granted.