Wrist & hand decisions — 2011

The Veteran's current right wrist ganglion cyst was incurred during her military service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death, and whether any other in-service disease or injury caused or contributed substantially or materially to cause his death.

The Board found no evidence of service origin for the Veteran's claimed conditions and denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) decision and supporting documents, as well as VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining inpatient treatment records and a VA examination to determine if the appellant's current back disability is related to service. The remaining issues are also on hold until further notice.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and bilateral hand disability, including carpal tunnel syndrome, were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities except possibly carpal tunnel syndrome in the right and left hands.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, prior to and since January 29, 2010, has not met the criteria for a compensable rating or any higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist and hand, as well as peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, were denied. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are directly related to service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand and wrist disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination.

The Board has granted higher initial ratings for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, tendonitis of the left wrist, and tendonitis of the right wrist. The current evaluations are consistent with the criteria set forth in the rating schedule.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hip disability, specifically osteoarthritis, was incurred during active service and is granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome were received on August 6, 2008. The effective dates of these grants are therefore set to the date of receipt of the claim.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, left knee disorder, and right wrist disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his service connection claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's residuals, surgical repair, fracture of the right navicular do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent due to lack of evidence of ankylosis.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed bilateral elbow, wrist, and hand disabilities are not related to his military service. The evidence does not show a current disability or any link between the disabilities and service.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, manifested by pain and limitation of motion, is currently evaluated at a 20 percent rating. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an increase in this evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not properly adjudicated due to procedural defects and requires further development, including a VA examination.