Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the etiology of any disorder associated with the Veteran's bilateral elbows and wrists. The Veteran is required to fully cooperate with VA efforts to provide an adequate medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right wrist disability was denied as the evidence did not show that he had ankylosis, which would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a stress fracture of the right heel, tendonitis of the right wrist, and bilateral pes planus. The claim for visual impairment is based on service-connected tonsillectomy.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The prostate cancer claim was not granted as the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, while the PTSD claim was also not granted due to its current mild disability picture.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 1, 2001 for the grant of non-service-connected disability pension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video-conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining additional evidence from SSA.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals right wrist fracture. The claim for skin lesions is REMANDED due to insufficient competent medical evidence.

The Board has found that additional development is necessary and the case is being remanded to the RO/AMC for further action, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities, including cold injuries and hearing loss, do not render him unemployable as he is capable of performing sedentary employment.

The Veteran's orthopedic manifestations of the residuals of a fracture of the left wrist with arthritis are not characterized by any type of ankylosis, and thus do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board granted an increased evaluation of 20 percent for the Veteran's right and left wrist fracture residuals, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected perforated left eardrum, fractures of the 4th and 5th metacarpals of the right hand, and right wrist fracture with arthritis have been denied. The maximum available ratings under VA's rating schedule are already assigned.

The Veteran claims service connection for arthritis of the elbows, wrists, fingers and hips as secondary to his service-connected bilateral foot disabilities. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's headaches have not been productive of at least characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month over the last several months.,The Veteran is receiving the maximum schedular ratings for limitation of motion of the wrists.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for sinusitis, left wrist disability, and low back disability. As such, these claims remain denied.

The Board granted an increased rating to 10 percent for the service-connected residuals of a right wrist fracture with traumatic arthritis and also granted a separate 10 percent rating for malunion of the distal radius. The Veteran's disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, lung condition, neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), right shoulder arthritis, left hand arthritis, bilateral wrist arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, and bilateral hip arthritis have been denied. The denial is based on the lack of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors for these conditions.