Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral CTS is granted, as new and material evidence has been provided. The issue of entitlement to a rating assigned will be addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is service-connected, but the Board finds that his unexplained joint pains are at least in equipoise with service connection. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right wrist condition warrants a 10 percent evaluation, effective March 23, 2007. The evidence does not support an earlier effective date.

The Board denied the reopened claim of service connection for residuals of injury to left hand and wrist due to the appellant's failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions and whether they are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right wrist disability prior to April 1, 2005 was manifested by painful wrist motion without evidence of arthritis. From April 1, 2005, the Veteran's right wrist disability is shown to have been manifested by arthritic degeneration in the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints with credible evidence of painful, limited wrist motion.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate instructions and examination for service connection of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The case must be returned for further development, including a VA neurology examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's left wrist disability did not have onset in service and was not caused or aggravated by his active military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's right wrist disability, finding that it more nearly approximates the criteria for such a rating. The claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability remains pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of a pre-existing condition in either case.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right shoulder strain with degenerative arthritis, and left wrist spur were denied as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, anal fissure, bilateral knee disorder, or bilateral wrist disorder. Therefore, the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that none of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist fracture and degenerative joint disease do not warrant a rating higher than the current 20 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's initial ratings for headaches and bilateral wrist arthritis were denied as there was no evidence of characteristic prostrating attacks averaging once a month over the last several months, or less frequent attacks warranting a noncompensable rating. The initial staged ratings for degenerative arthritic changes of the right and left wrists met the criteria for 10 percent ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected GERD with positive H. pylori antibody and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied an increased rating for the right wrist disability and service connection for a kidney or bladder disability, to include microhematuria. The Veteran's current disabilities are not shown in or since service.

The Veteran is service-connected for multiple conditions and the Board finds that his service-connected disabilities make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral elbow, wrist, and knee disabilities, prostate disability, psychiatric disability, hypertension, and skin disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding no credible evidence linking these conditions to his active duty. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was also denied.