Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-operative residuals of a nerve disorder in the right wrist and forearm are service-connected, resolving reasonable doubt in her favor. The rating for her disability of the right foot and right great toe remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for sarcoidosis, carpal tunnel syndrome (right and left upper extremities), temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and bleeding gums are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability and tinnitus are not well grounded, as there is no competent evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's claim for an extension of her delimiting date for Chapter 32 educational assistance was denied as there is no additional medical evidence showing that the disability prevented her from pursuing education during the relevant time period.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current left wrist disorder to his military service, and thus denied the claim.

The veteran's appeal was found to be timely, and the case is remanded for further development of her claim.

The VA has determined that the veteran's right wrist fracture residuals do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent since August 5, 1997.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a home adaptation grant due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the regulatory requirements.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral wrist disability is denied. The Board finds that the veteran has a current left knee disability related to his military service and grants service connection for it, with an initial evaluation of 20%. The veteran's onychomycosis does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's left wrist disability and declined to reopen his claim of service connection for a left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are not well-grounded, as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against the current assignment of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The claims of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right carpal tunnel syndrome, and compensable evaluations for hemorrhoids, chronic low back strain with early degenerative changes, and Crohn's disease and hiatal hernia with chest pain are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of Bell's palsy, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking his current carpal tunnel syndrome to the in-service occurrence of treatment for Bell's palsy.

The Board has granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and determined the propriety of a 10 percent initial rating for ptosis of the left upper eyelid. The veteran's claim was reopened based on new evidence, leading to these determinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disorder, as well as his claims for cold injury residuals of both lower extremities and gunshot wound residuals of the left wrist.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant an increased evaluation. The left axillary lipoma is rated as 10 percent disabling due to pain, but no functional impairment. The laceration of the left wrist does not result in any functional impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, restoration of a 30 percent evaluation for asthma with bronchitis, and increases in evaluations for his nervous condition and right wrist reflex sympathetic dystrophy. The RO proposed to reduce the veteran's 30 percent evaluation for asthma with bronchitis from October 1, 1989, but the veteran did not contest this reduction.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left wrist fracture does not warrant an increased evaluation beyond the current 10 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no medical evidence linking his hip condition to his service-connected disabilities. The knee and wrist conditions were also found not well-grounded.