Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and unverified periods of active duty. The Veteran's claims for left wrist injury and back disorder are being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and left wrist disabilities had their onset during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome was not related to his service-connected right wrist disability and denied both his claim for service connection for CTS and his request for an initial compensable evaluation for his right wrist disability.

The Board has determined that there is no current left upper extremity neurological disorder related to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board found that the February 1980 rating decision denying service connection for a right arm and wrist disability was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, as there was no evidence of pre-existing conditions at the time of the decision.

The Veteran's back disability is now rated at 20 percent effective May 31, 2011. A separate evaluation for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted. The Veteran's bilateral wrist disability remains noncompensable.

The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome is not related to his time in service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left hand disabilities (carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar neuropathy) are not related to service or his service-connected left elbow disability. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's left wrist strain has been rated at 10 percent since November 9, 2008. The VA Board found that the evidence supports a higher rating of 30 percent for the entire period on appeal due to favorable ankylosis in 20 degrees to 30 degrees dorsiflexion.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have worsened, but the Board has determined that a rating in excess of 50 percent is not warranted prior to January 29, 2011. The claims for service connection for COPD, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral knee arthritis, arthritis of the right wrist, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, back condition, neck condition, pneumonia, and cholinergic urticaria have been withdrawn.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral wrist and low back disorders did not have their clinical onset during service, arthritis was not diagnosed within one year post-service, and there is no medical evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service. The claims for service connection were therefore denied.

The Veteran's left wrist disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome or fibromyalgia, and her lipomas do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right lower arm disability and left arm and hand disability are due to or aggravated by her service-connected recurrent shoulder dislocation.,VA medical evidence does not support a finding of osteoarthritis in the Veteran's feet, nor does it link any current foot disorder to service-connected varicose veins.

The Veteran's left wrist disability was not shown to be service-connected or to have resulted in a compensable rating prior to April 29, 2010. The evidence does not demonstrate that the condition warranted a higher rating before this date.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the inadequacy of the VA examination report, specifically regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's De Quervain's syndrome. The examiner was asked to address the clinical significance of the Veteran having a ganglion cyst on his left wrist and its surgical removal/drainage, as well as the in-service treatment for his left wrist.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, right hand disability, sleep disorder, drug and alcohol abuse, and groin pain. The decision also addressed a claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for erectile dysfunction resulting from treatment at VA facilities in December 2005.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his low back, neck, wrist, ankle, and knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support a rating higher than 40 percent for his lumbosacral spine disability, 30 percent for his cervical spine disability, 10 percent for his right wrist injury, 10 percent for his right ankle disability, or 10 percent for his right knee tendonitis.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, characterized by arthritis and limitation of motion, is currently rated at the minimum 10 percent level. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.