Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic left hand/wrist disability did not have its onset during active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder arthritis, left hand arthritis, bilateral wrist arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis and bilateral hip arthritis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's left wrist disability has been rated at 10 percent since October 1, 2007. The condition is manifested by limited motion and pain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the bilateral upper extremities is related to service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's original claim for service connection was received on December 4, 2003. The Board finds that the earliest date entitlement arose is November 2004 when he was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity. Therefore, an effective date of December 4, 2003, for the grant of service connection is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including those related to his cervical and lumbar spine conditions. The appeals were based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial evaluations for his service-connected inguinal hernia, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome. The evidence did not show that the conditions warranted a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His left wrist disability was rated based on limitation of motion, with no ankylosis noted. Service connection for a back disability was raised but not addressed.

The Veteran's appeal involves the initial rating for left carpal tunnel syndrome and an increased rating for tinea pedis. The RO has granted service connection but denied a compensable rating for both conditions in August 2007. The Board is remanding the case to obtain updated VA examinations, as well as any outstanding treatment records from Fayetteville VAMC.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining vocational rehabilitation records and clarifying his disability retirement status.

The Veteran's service-connected fibrocartilage ligament tear of the right wrist has approximated the functional equivalent of ankylosis in a position other than favorable (favorable is between 20 and 30 degrees of dorsiflexion), but has not been productive of ankylosis fixed in any degree of palmar flexion, ulnar deviation, nor radial deviation. The Veteran's right wrist disability warrants a rating of 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left wrist disability, including Kienbock's disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and could not be presumed based on the one-year presumption for a chronic disease. The claim was denied as there was no direct evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right shoulder, left elbow, and bilateral wrist disabilities are likely related to service. The Veteran reported symptoms during service and has continued treatment for these conditions.,Service connection is granted for a right shoulder disability, right elbow disability, and bilateral wrist disability.

The Veteran's LEMS was not service-connected, and his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 based on VA's failure to timely diagnose and properly treat LEMS was also denied.

The Board found no evidence of a current right wrist disorder or gastro-intestinal disorder, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist, left wrist, and left knee disabilities. The effective date is not specified as the claims were received in January 2005.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right wrist scars. The claim will be readjudicated based on both old and new criteria for rating scars.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right hand laceration are not rated higher than 10 percent, and his bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is not found to be related to the service-connected condition.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic left wrist disability in service and concluded that the Veteran's current left wrist disorder is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development due to the presence of new symptoms not previously noted in his medical records.