Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his hearing loss, cervical spine condition, left shoulder arthritis, and right wrist disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for various disorders are not well grounded, as there is no medical evidence showing current diagnoses or a link to service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence submitted. However, it was determined that these multiple orthopedic disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is not well-grounded, and therefore denied. The other issues listed are also addressed but no rating assigned as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable or higher disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not warrant an increased rating, as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for high cholesterol and entitlement to a compensable evaluation for prostatism. The claim for increased rating of left ear hearing loss is granted, but at noncompensable level.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for left wrist tendonitis, finding that there was no current diagnosis of hypertension. The veteran's claim for a higher original evaluation for his wrist disability is well grounded.

The Board granted a temporary increased evaluation of 100 percent for the veteran's right wrist disorder due to surgery, and subsequently returned it to a schedular 10 percent rating. The Board found that the veteran's right wrist disability warranted an additional 20 percent rating based on functional loss and pain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation of her right wrist fracture and service connection for asthma. The claim for asthma was found to be not well-grounded due to a lack of medical evidence linking current asthma to her period of active duty.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for residuals of a right inguinal herniorrhaphy and for residuals of a fracture of the left wrist, as well as his claim for benefits under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension, postoperative right and left carpal tunnel decompression surgeries. The evidence did not support higher evaluations based on current blood pressure readings or clinical findings.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and fibromyalgia, but granted a 10% evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a right wrist injury do not warrant an evaluation in excess of the currently assigned 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the appellant's duty status during the time of the motor vehicle accident. The RO is instructed to verify this information and then readjudicate the claim.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is not well-grounded.,There is no evidence linking the veteran's current chronic fatigue syndrome to his military service or reported continuity of post-service symptomatology.,The veteran's allegation of hearing loss is not supported by medical evidence that would render plausible the claim concerning service connection for bilateral hearing loss.,Although the veteran has reported asbestos exposure in service, there is no medical evidence of asbestosis or any asbestos-related disorder.,Respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,The veteran's claim for flu-like symptoms involving the sinuses is not well-grounded.,Muscle aches in thighs and lower legs are not supported by medical evidence that would render plausible the claim concerning service connection for muscle aches resulting from an undiagnosed illness.,Eye symptoms are not supported by medical evidence that would render plausible the claim concerning service connection for eye symptoms resulting from an undiagnosed illness.,Stomach symptoms are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,Generalized joint pain and shaking are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,Fatigue as a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness is plausible, but the veteran has submitted some evidence supporting this claim.,The veteran's allegation of hearing loss related to an undiagnosed illness is not well-grounded.,Joint pain in ankles and hips are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,Joint pain in thumbs, fingers of both hands, wrists, elbows are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 14, 1997, for assignment of a 30 percent rating for total left wrist fusion.

The veteran's claim for a compensable initial disability evaluation for status post-ganglionectomy, right wrist is denied as the medical evidence does not show any condition that would warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left wrist disorders, and assigned a 10 percent rating for residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right thumb. The veteran's claims are well-grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, as there was no medical evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.