Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for loss of bone in the mandible between teeth nos. 23 and 26 due to a traumatic injury sustained during service, and has also granted an initial compensable rating (10%) for left arm scars as residuals of shell fragment wounds.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The initial ratings assigned for traumatic arthritis of the right wrist and left wrist, as well as the residuals of left elbow fracture, are not supported by the evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right arm disability, left wrist disability, neck disability, and low back strain prior to February 13, 2008 are all denied. The Veteran was granted a compensable rating (10%) for her left index finger distal interphalangeal joint tendon disruption.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and will schedule a videoconference hearing for the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for left upper extremity neuropathy and left wrist DJD are being remanded due to the need for additional examination findings. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss remains on appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of injuries to his hands, wrists, neck, back, and right leg. The claim for residuals of an injury to the right maxilla (head injury) was also denied as there is no evidence that a chronic disorder involving the right maxilla was incurred in service.

The Veteran does not have tendonitis of the right arm, wrist, or elbow that is related to active duty service. Osteoarthritis was also not shown within a year of discharge from active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore service connection is denied for hearing loss, right eye problems, tinnitus, and bilateral hand/wrist joints.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at C. R. H. for a left wrist injury were denied as the treatment was not deemed emergent and did not meet the criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for throat cancer, right knee arthritis, and right ankle disability were denied. The claim for left wrist disorder was remanded.

The Board has found that the Veteran's post-operative fracture of the carponavicular bone of the left wrist does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent, as it is currently evaluated at the highest schedular evaluation available based on limitation of motion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral foot disorder, fatigue, joint pain of elbows and wrist, low back disorder, skin rash, bilateral ankle condition, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left arm disability, previously adjudicated as carpal tunnel syndrome of the left arm, is granted. The Veteran's increased evaluation claim for residuals of shrapnel wound fracture/dislocation of T12 with loss of bowel control is also granted and rated at 60 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extension of eligibility for vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code due to a lack of evidence showing medical infeasibility or serious employment handicap during his period of basic eligibility.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and retaining employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests; he does not have an employment handicap.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for residuals of a fractured right wrist due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The Veteran's current condition is being evaluated in light of his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right wrist fusion and periostitis of the right foot and ankle, do not render him unemployable due to their severity.

The Board denied an extraschedular evaluation for the Veteran's left wrist disability with loss of use of the left hand, finding that the evidence did not show periods of hospitalization or frequent periods of convalescence required solely due to this condition.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and records are needed to properly adjudicate the appellant's claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including a medical opinion by a VA orthopedic specialist regarding his service-connected left knee and right hip disabilities. The claims will be adjudicated again once this development is completed.