Wrist & hand Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for service connection for multiple joint conditions to schedule an appropriate examination.

The Board concluded that the preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, and bilateral wrist strain.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, hyperhidrosis, and left inguinal hernia.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied it on a de novo basis. The claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is remanded.

The appeal was denied for service connection for chronic left wrist strain, and the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity decreased sensation, left lower extremity decreased sensation, and right wrist deQuervain's tenosynovitis were not found to warrant increased ratings.

The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance from December 19, 2002, to January 2, 2003.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and adjudication of the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of both wrists and disability of both hands and arms, to include bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's 30 percent rating for cervical spine strain, with disc herniation at C4-C5 and C5-C6, was improper, while reductions in ratings for tendonitis of both wrists and right trapezius strain were proper.

The Board denied service connection for left foot, right wrist, left wrist, right hand, and left hand disorders as no chronic conditions were shown. However, the Veteran was granted service connection for left hip, right hip, right knee, and left knee disorders due to in-service arthralgia.

The Veteran was granted a 20 percent initial disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle and carpel tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome with median neuropathy and seborrheic dermatitis and rosacea as they were not shown to be due to an event or incident during the Veteran's period of active service, nor was there evidence of exposure to herbicides that could have caused these conditions.

The Board restored the 10 percent disability rating for carpal tunnel syndrome, effective October 3, 2005. Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss.

The appeal was partially denied, with service connection for a bilateral wrist disorder being denied and an increased rating for the lumbar spine disability granted effective March 17, 2008.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for initial evaluation claims related to degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder, tendonitis of the right wrist, bursitis of the right hip, irritable bowel syndrome, and hypothyroidism.

The Board denied service connection for left knee arthritis, left wrist arthritis, right foot plantar fasciitis, an acquired disability of the left eye, bilateral knee growths, bilateral hip pain, and back pain as there was no competent medical evidence to support a finding that these conditions were related to active service or secondary to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is rated at 40 percent due to constant or nearly constant symptoms refractory to therapy, including widespread musculoskeletal pain and tender points, fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiffness, paresthesias, headache, gastrointestinal symptoms, depression, and anxiety.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for an appropriate VA examination to determine the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed disabilities, including as due to undiagnosed illness resulting from service in the Southwest Asia theater during the Gulf War.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including a bilateral hand condition, ganglion cyst of the left wrist, endometriosis and residuals of a hysterectomy, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's service-connected right carpal tunnel syndrome with thumb ligament repair was granted a 40 percent rating, effective September 17, 2008.