Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's right wrist and hand disability to his service-connected scar of the right elbow, thus denying the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disorder was not well-grounded due to lack of documented treatment in service and current evidence of a disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for joint pain of the wrists, ankles, and right knee. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for hearing loss. The rating for left wrist fusion was increased to 30 percent, effective from November 1, 1995.

The Board has determined that the veteran submitted a timely substantive appeal regarding the September 1997 rating decision granting compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for tremors of the right wrist and assigning a 20 percent evaluation, thus closing his appeal.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another or by reason of being housebound was denied due to his nonservice-connected disabilities not meeting the criteria for such benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and residuals of a back injury are not well grounded, as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral wrist ganglion cysts is being remanded due to the need for additional medical development and review of existing records.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and Dupuytren's contracture as being proximately due to or the result of his service connected right arm disability. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for faulty union of the right upper radius and ulna with some deformity was granted, but he is not bound by this decision as it has been vacated.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected right wrist fusion, right knee chondromalacia, and left elbow epicondylitis. The issue of a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is not currently before the Board.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for chronic right hand and wrist injuries as there was no evidence of a current disability or chronic residuals from an inservice injury.

The veteran's claim for a compensable disability evaluation for his postoperative residuals of a ganglion on the right wrist with a history of carpal tunnel syndrome is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and an examination.

The veteran's multiple complaints of disability were not supported by medical evidence, and his disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining substantial gainful employment.

The Board found that the veteran's right hand and wrist disorder, to include carpal tunnel syndrome, is not service-connected due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a pre-existing condition.

The VA denied an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for the veteran's gunshot wound residuals, including traumatic arthritis and nerve involvement. The issue of service connection for Dupuytren's contracture was not addressed.

The veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The issues of arthritis of the knees, bilateral ankle condition (claimed as arthritis), bilateral hip condition, and hearing loss, right ear are dismissed due to withdrawal by the appellant.

The VA determined that the veteran's left wrist disorder, postoperative status, warrants a 10 percent rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board denied service connection for emphysema, alcoholism, and an increased evaluation for a right wrist and hand fracture. The decision is not considered to contain clear and unmistakable error.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left knee chondromalacia patella. The veteran was granted a noncompensable evaluation for his left knee disability, effective February 1, 1991.

The Board denied service connection for polyarticular degenerative disease of the right hand and an increased evaluation for residuals of a fracture of the navicular of the right wrist, finding that the claims were not well grounded.