Wrist & hand Board decisions

The veteran's low back disorder is rated at 20 percent, and his right wrist residuals are not compensable.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the residuals of an excision of a ganglion cyst of the right wrist. The effective date for the 10 percent rating assigned for the right wrist disorder is October 7, 1992.

The veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and ankle disabilities are currently rated based on their severity, but do not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The VA denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected conditions, including residuals of a fractured pelvis and right femoral shaft, left wrist laceration with medial nerve involvement, and laparotomy with intestinal resection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for thyroid cancer is well grounded, but her claims of fibromyalgia and polyneuropathy/bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to exposure to non-ionizing radiation are not well grounded. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board denied an increased rating for service-connected obstructive airway disease and tendonitis of the right wrist, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for dry mouth syndrome secondary to PTSD medications is well-grounded, and he is entitled to a compensable rating for his healed carpal navicular fracture of the right wrist.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well-grounded and therefore denied.

The veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds it does not warrant a higher rating.,The veteran's residuals of gunshot wounds to the left wrist and fingers are rated as one disability (residuals of gunshot wound to the left wrist) with a single 50 percent rating effective October 8, 1992.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected fracture of the right wrist with traumatic arthritis, currently rated at 30 percent.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected right wrist condition, characterized by post-traumatic osteoarthritis, does not warrant a higher rating than the current 10 percent assigned.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, as there was no evidence linking her current low back and right wrist disorders to active service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there is no medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and paroxysmal atrial tachycardia as secondary to her service-connected hypothyroidism.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of both wrists as there is no medical evidence linking a current arthritic disability to an incident of service or to a service-connected condition.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for joint pain of the knees and wrists as chronic disabilities resulting from an undiagnosed illness due to a lack of timely filed substantive appeal.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his lumbar spine and left wrist conditions were denied by the RO. The lumbar spine condition received a higher evaluation, but the left wrist condition remains at its current 10 percent rating.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 60 percent for the residuals of a low back injury with radiculopathy, effective from the day following the veteran's separation from service. Ratings in excess of 20 percent have been denied for right shoulder strain and left shoulder strain, and ratings in excess of 10 percent have been denied for right carpal tunnel syndrome and left carpal tunnel syndrome.

The veteran's service-connected left wrist disability, resulting from a scaphoid fracture in service, results in limited motion due to pain. The VA has determined that the current 10% evaluation is appropriate given the limitation of motion and does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's left wrist disability and found that his claims of service connection for prostate disability and testicle pain are well grounded. The veteran is entitled to an increased rating for his left wrist disability, but not for his prostate or testicle pain.