Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a broken left kneecap, residuals of a broken left wrist, and left hip dislocation have been granted. The conditions are deemed to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and referral for extraschedular consideration were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of entitlement to these benefits.,Special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the right hand was also denied, as it was determined that prior to September 29, 2006, the Veteran's wrist disability did not meet the criteria for such compensation.

The Veteran's hypertension claim was denied in May 2009. The Board has not found new and material evidence to reopen the claim. The Veteran does not have left upper peripheral neuropathy, to include carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not warrant a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and need for further medical examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome is not related to his service-connected left wrist fracture and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA clinical records, as well as a supplemental opinion regarding the left leg and carpal tunnel syndrome claims. The RO will also issue statements of the case on new issues.

The Board denied service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome and found that an earlier effective date for additional compensation on account of a dependent spouse is not warranted. The Veteran's left carpal tunnel syndrome was determined to be unrelated to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination of his service-connected peptic ulcer disease, degenerative joint disease of the right wrist, and residuals of right wrist radial nerve damage.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the RO in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not incur any of the claimed disabilities during his active duty service or any period of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA. Therefore, service connection for all issues is denied.

The Board has restored the Veteran's service-connected ratings for status post contusion, right wrist, left ankle strain, and right ankle strain to 10 percent effective June 11, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right radial head fracture with traumatic arthritis aggravated his current right wrist and/or right shoulder disability, as well as a need for further examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disability. The cervical spine disability is not related to active service, nor is it secondary to a service-connected disability. Carpal tunnel syndrome was also not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor is it secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for a comprehensive evaluation of the functional effects of his service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal seeking a higher disability rating for right wrist tendonitis.

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is related to his service-connected type II diabetes. The Board has granted the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining treatment records and a VA fibromyalgia examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her bilateral wrist disorder, which includes wrist pain with X-ray evidence of probable erosion at the base of the fifth metacarpal and osteopenia at the medial aspect of the hamate, was granted. The current rating is 10 percent.