Wrist & hand decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for chronic right wrist strain, chronic left wrist strain, biceps tendonitis of the right shoulder, and biceps tendonitis of the left shoulder.

The Board's decision on the claims to reopen for bilateral arm and wrist disabilities was vacated due to a denial of due process. The other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU and an extraschedular evaluation for migraine headaches on initial rating basis in excess of 50 percent have been denied. The schedular evaluations previously assigned adequately encompass the nature and extent of the service-connected disabilities, including pertinent symptoms and manifestations thereof.

The appellant's combined disability rating is 70%, which does not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his disabilities are service-connected and do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for her service-connected left knee disability and service connection for her claimed left hand and wrist disorder are pending.

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is found to be incurred in service. The initial compensable disability rating for hypertension, right pontine lesion, and cervical spine degenerative changes are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, chip fracture of left talus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and gout. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hand carpal tunnel syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right brachial plexus injury with shoulder and elbow deficits and sensory deficits of the right wrist and hand was denied in April 1985, but he filed a request to reopen his claim on February 20, 1991. The RO granted service connection effective from February 20, 1991.,The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right shoulder arthritis and gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances were also denied in April 1985, but he filed a request to reopen his claim on July 11, 2000. The RO granted service connection effective from July 11, 2000.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining clarification on whether the Veteran's claimed carpal tunnel syndrome is separate from his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities. The left knee disability claim is also being considered on a secondary basis to his right leg disability. The back disability claim is inextricably intertwined with the left knee disability and must be deferred at this time.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for arthritis of the right wrist and epicondylitis of the right elbow were denied by the Board. The Veteran is currently rated 10% for his right elbow condition, but seeks a higher rating. For his right wrist condition, he was previously rated 30%, but now seeks an increase.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the right wrist with navicular nonunion and residuals of a fractured left wrist were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating schedules.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a Persian Gulf War examination and additional treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for chloracne and right and left knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. The claim for keratosis and hyperkeratosis (claimed as dry skin, tunnels in and under skin, wart-like growths on the feet, extra dry hands, and skin cancer) has been reopened due to new evidence received since the last final denial.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 12, 2004, for the grant of service connection for her service-connected disabilities was denied as she did not file a formal or informal claim prior to that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine, left wrist, and acquired psychiatric disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining more recent medical records and a neurological examination to assess any left forearm/wrist muscle or neurological injuries.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left wrist condition is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist tenosynovitis with a ganglion cyst is related to active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current manifestations and severity of his service-connected right wrist disability, including any causal relationship between his in-service injury and his current symptoms.