Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disability (CAD), and migraine headaches are all found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD with alcohol abuse. The musculoskeletal disabilities are also found to be related to the service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employment and daily activities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, right wrist ganglionectomy residuals (scar and decrease in motion), and stuttering disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active duty service and have denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hand carpal tunnel syndrome had its onset during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of residuals of pulmonary sequestrations, gout of the right wrist, knees, and right ankle, and anemia have been denied. The RO assigned staged ratings based on the severity of each condition.,For the period from September 27, 2002 to April 17, 2003, the Veteran's residuals of pulmonary sequestrations were evaluated at 30 percent.

The Board found new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims for hypertension, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and spine injury residuals. The claims were denied as they remained based on service connection criteria.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that it is not related to service or due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations of his left foot plantar fasciitis and left wrist De Quervain' tenosynovitis were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist and arm disabilities, as well as a left hand disability for purposes of accrued benefits. The Veteran's lung disability is not considered service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left leg disability, and right leg disability are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple joint pain, finding that his symptoms are due to known diagnoses and not related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for various disabilities, including PTSD, knee conditions, elbow degenerative joint disease, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, wrist condition/carpal tunnel syndrome, and left elbow disability. The decision also grants service connection for a bilateral arm disability (claimed as bilateral shoulder disability).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for an updated medical evaluation considering his recent cervical spine surgery and current physical disabilities, including neurologic and motor impairment in the upper extremities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for arthritis of the left wrist has been withdrawn, resulting in dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for shell fragment wounds of the left forearm with ulna fracture and arthritis of the wrist was denied in the March 1951 rating decision, as it was considered part of his overall service-connected disabilities. The appellant is seeking accrued benefits based on a finding of CUE in this decision.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, and he is awarded a TDIU. The right eye chalazion and left carpal tunnel syndrome are not rated compensably or in excess of the current ratings, respectively. The low back disability does not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder condition and granted service connection for migraine headaches and right wrist disorder. The claims are based on new evidence showing continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the Veteran's claim for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for disability due to EMG/NCV studies performed at the VAMC in Salisbury, North Carolina.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left carpal tunnel syndromes have been rated as noncompensable prior to August 21, 2009, and as 10 percent disabling from that date. The appeal is granted.