Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected headaches are manifested by migraines with very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a disability rating of 50 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for DJD of all joints, finding that his current DJD is not related to his active service and is more likely due to rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's current lung disability and his military service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to be sufficient for a TDIU rating, but further examination is needed to assess the impact of his PTSD on employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a scheduling issue.

The Veteran's current right wrist disorder is diagnosed to be degenerative joint disease, which the VA examiners found was not incurred in service. The Board finds that her lay statements regarding a continuity of symptomatology are not credible and do not establish service connection.

The Veteran's left knee condition is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the grant of service connection (November 10, 1998), and his right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome claim has been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA pension examination to determine the nature, extent and severity of all disabilities found to be present. The RO should assign a rating for each of the Veteran's disabilities based on this information.

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is currently rated at 30 percent, effective September 28, 2009. Prior to that date, the disability was rated as moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand was not shown in service and competent medical evidence does not show that his condition is causally related to his military service. Therefore, his claim for service connection has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's notice of disagreement regarding her September 2004 denial for service connection was not timely filed, and thus the appeal is denied.

The Veteran's separate disability evaluations for his right and left carpal tunnel syndrome were reduced from 10 percent to noncompensable effective from January 1, 2009. The case is being remanded for further development including obtaining additional treatment records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist was granted a 10 percent rating effective from the date of his claim. The disability is rated based on its mild nature and intermittent symptoms such as numbness and pain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the extent of his service-connected disabilities and any bilateral wrist disability, as well as whether these conditions are related to service or a service-connected disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and initial evaluations for lumbar sprain and tension headaches were denied. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, and the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation for her lumbar sprain or a compensable evaluation for her tension headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of a right foot disorder, right shoulder disorder, or left wrist disorder. The claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, which includes a fracture and surgical treatment, results in noncompensable limitation of motion with pain on use. The Board has determined that the criteria for a compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5215 are met.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rate of SMC based on need for aid and attendance is denied as the disability requiring such assistance is due to his service-connected residuals of poliomyelitis, not separate disabilities.