Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left carpal tunnel syndromes, as well as a separate rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity associated with his lumbar spine disorder, were granted. The Veteran is now rated at 40% for his lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's gout was granted service connection, and he received a non-compensable rating for his right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's hemorrhoids were also granted service connection with a non-compensable rating. His left inguinal hernia, impotence, tendonitis of the right wrist, sinusitis with headaches, skin disease, and meralgia paresthetica of the right thigh are all rated as non-compensable. The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted service connection effective September 20, 2007, and he received a 30 percent rating for it.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right wrist alone does not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple joint pain (excluding knees and elbows), respiratory disorder, and sleep disturbance, are not service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a qualifying chronic disability related to his Persian Gulf War service.

The Board found no competent and credible evidence to support the Veteran's claims for left carpal tunnel syndrome and sciatica of the right lower extremity, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's ganglion cyst of the left hand is found to be related to service. The VA examiner could not provide a nexus opinion regarding his osteoarthritis of the left wrist, but the Board finds that the requirement for current disability has been met and service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current left wrist arthritis is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right wrist fracture residuals are manifested by pain on motion, tenderness, and limited dorsiflexion and palmar flexion. The current 10 percent rating is appropriate as the disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's left wrist arthritis is presumed to be related to service. His lumbar spine disability, diagnosed in service, has persisted since then and is considered presumptive due to his active duty service. The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent for arthritis with a separate 20 percent rating for instability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and extraschedular evaluation for his right wrist disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or an extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of the proposed reduction in his right knee rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar neuropathy are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has resolved all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, finding that service connection is warranted for his bilateral knee disability and right eye disability. The Veteran's bilateral wrist condition was not addressed as it appears to be a separate claim.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left wrist disorder should be remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a right wrist disability and neurological impairment of the right leg, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service. The heart condition is also found to be proximately due to or aggravated by hypertension, which was found to have its onset in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left wrist with Kienbock's disease is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for limitation of motion. The Board finds no evidence of ankylosis or other factors warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for the issues of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral leg condition, carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, insomnia/sleep disturbances, left ankle condition, migraine headaches, and ovarian cysts.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for complications following his October 2010 surgery at a VA facility, including limited motion of the right arm and hand, and infection of the surgical scar on his wrist. The Board finds that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's right thumb, right wrist, and bilateral knee disabilities did not have onset during active service or within one-year of service discharge and are not otherwise etiologically related to active service. The claims were denied.