Wrist & hand Board decisions

The veteran's claim for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or special home adaptations is denied because he does not meet the criteria for these benefits based on his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection of arthritis of multiple joints, but it is unclear whether this evidence supports a finding of service connection due to the mixed disposition.

The Board has denied increased evaluations for the veteran's dental condition, facial scars, and scars of the left wrist and hand, and legs.

The veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left wrists are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA neurology examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran is unemployable due to multiple disabilities, including chronic lumbar syndrome and degenerative joint disease. The evidence shows he suffers from a combination of conditions that prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to the need for a new rating examination and review of medical records. The appellant's disabilities include seizure disorder, left wrist pain, degenerative joint disease of the elbows, occasional angina-like chest pain, and history of a cerebral vascular accident.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 20% disability rating for service-connected residuals of fracture, right wrist. The Board finds no basis to grant this claim and denies the request.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied as he does not meet the regulatory requirements for entitlement to a compensable rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324.

The veteran's service-connected shell fragment wound residuals in the left upper arm, right leg (Muscle Group XII), and right axilla region are not rated higher than their current evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of right wrist fracture, service connection for right knee disability, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back disability. The RO found that there was no evidence to support a higher rating or service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for postoperative residuals of laceration of the right wrist, with tenosynovitis and neuroma of the right median nerve is being remanded to allow for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the veteran currently has a low back disorder and that it is related to his service. The claims for service connection for left knee, wrist, and shoulder disorders are granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his residuals of a gunshot wound of the right wrist, finding that the disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied a compensable rating for residuals of a fracture of the left thumb, finding that there was no evidence of limitation of motion or ankylosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating of cervical spine condition and service connection for residuals of right ankle sprain, right shoulder strain, left wrist injury, sinusitis/myalgia, and spinal tap. The veteran appealed these decisions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased evaluations of sinusitis, right shoulder injury, and ligament injury to the right wrist as there were no timely substantive appeals filed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow, left elbow, right wrist, and left wrist disabilities. The veteran's patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee was also not granted an initial compensable rating.

The veteran's service-connected fractured right wrist is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 20 percent for internal derangement of the left knee and denied any increase in rating for residuals of a fracture of the left wrist with arthritis.