Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran did not have asthma, coronary artery disease and hypertension, diabetes mellitus, carpal tunnel syndrome, or a chronic gastrointestinal condition (to include ulcers and gastritis) incurred during service. The claims were denied as they do not meet the criteria for well-groundedness.

The Board found no evidence of a causal link between the veteran's left wrist disorder and VA medical treatment in 1994, thus denying compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The RO denied higher initial evaluations for the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including headaches, degenerative arthritis of the lower lumbar spine, tinnitus, residuals of a fracture of the ulna, and hemorrhoids. The claims for sinusitis, stomach disorder, labyrinthitis, otitis media, right wrist disorder, and lung disorder with sleep disturbances are not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of excision of a tumor of the left hand and residuals of a ganglion cyst of the left wrist do not warrant an initial compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral arm disability is related to his service-connected cervical spine disorder and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral wrist disorder is not well grounded and denied it. The effective date request was also denied as there was no evidence submitted within one year of notification.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, and thus denied them.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and dizziness, as well as for increased ratings for bilateral wrist injuries, are not well grounded. The claim for service connection is denied due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his period of active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee, right knee, and left wrist disabilities are currently rated at 10% each, which is the maximum schedular rating available under current VA regulations. Therefore, any further increase in ratings is not warranted.

The veteran's service-connected cervical spine disorder, chronic low back muscular strain with arthritis, and postoperative residuals of a ganglion cyst with synovitis of the left wrist are all rated at their maximum allowable evaluations. The veteran's headaches as residual of concussion remain rated at 10 percent.

The Board has restored the 10 percent ratings for the veteran's service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome of both wrists based on the current severity of symptoms without requiring medical or surgical treatment.

The veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need to resolve issues related to service connection and employment. The veteran also has secondary claims for stomach, psychiatric, sleep, left wrist, and crushed feet disorders that are inextricably intertwined with his TDIU claim.

The veteran's increased evaluation and total rating claims for service-connected disabilities were denied. The left wrist disability is rated at 10 percent, while the knee disabilities do not preclude employment.

The veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected post-operative fusion C5-6 with arthritis and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine from May 19, 1990 to October 7, 1993, were denied. The Board found that a rating higher than 40 percent was not warranted for his post-operative fusion C5-6 with arthritis and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and a rating higher than 20 percent was not warranted for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine from May 19, 1990 to October 7, 1993.

The veteran's claim was denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA medical examinations, which is a requirement under VA regulations.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for joint pain of the knees, hands, and wrists, inflammatory bowel disease with esophagitis and hiatal hernia, and low back pain. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has denied increased disability evaluations for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right wrist and epididymitis, right. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) remains pending due to incomplete development.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right wrist disabilities were not well-grounded, as there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for left shoulder disability was also not well-grounded due to a lack of nexus between the current condition and service.

The veteran's claim for a higher SMC rate and an earlier effective date for his combined rating of 100 percent were denied. The reimbursement claim for the spas was not addressed in this decision.

The Board found that the veteran's carpal tunnel release residuals do not meet criteria for a higher rating, as they are currently manifested by mild symptoms of incomplete paralysis of the median nerve in both wrists.