Wrist & hand decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hand disability, finding that the Veteran experienced an injury to his right hand prior to active service and that there is sufficient evidence to support the conclusion that the current disability is related to service. The issues of initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for a psychiatric disorder and effective date earlier than March 28, 2008, for TDIU are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as he failed to appear at the scheduled VA examination and did not provide good cause.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and arthralgia of the back and right wrist/shoulder were granted. The effective date is not specified as it was a direct grant without reopening an old claim.

The Board previously denied service connection for a right arm/elbow disability and left hand disability (to include DeQuervain's tenosynovitis). The Veteran seeks to reopen these claims, as well as an increased evaluation for his left wrist ganglion cyst. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left wrist osteomylitis, resulting from May and June 2006 VA surgeries, was found to be a result of the care provided by VA. The event that caused this additional disability (infection) was not reasonably foreseeable.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her migraine headaches, sciatica of the right and left lower extremities associated with her low back disability, and service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome were denied. The Veteran's claim for higher evaluations of her migraine headaches was granted up to a 30 percent evaluation effective May 27, 2011.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a skin disease, low back disability, left leg disability, and left wrist and hand disability due to lack of current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses or symptoms that would warrant an increased rating for his right knee disability, and denied the claims for bilateral shin splints, right elbow pain, and bilateral wrist strain. However, by extending the benefit of doubt to the Veteran, his lumbosacral strain was determined to be service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, joint pain, and skin rashes is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service. The exposure basis is presumed herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 100%, meeting the percentage requirements for a TDIU. However, the weight of medical opinion and other evidence indicates that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Board has determined that further development of the Veteran's claim is warranted, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether her service-connected bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome caused or aggravated her degenerative arthritis of the wrists and hands.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for unspecified arthritis (other than the left wrist), a left testicular cyst, and a perirectal abscess have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a post-operative left wrist disability, to include lipoma excision residuals, and an anxiety disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to deficiencies in previous VA examinations and the need to obtain private treatment records.

The Veteran's current service-connected disabilities include posttraumatic stress disorder, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome. The combined disability rating is 70 percent, which meets percentage requirements for a total disability rating on a schedular basis. However, the VA examiner did not provide an opinion regarding the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left wrist disability and thus, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, low energy and fatigue, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, erectile dysfunction, and psychiatric disability. These conditions are found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran seeks service connection for right and left wrists disabilities. The case is REMANDED to the RO for further development, including obtaining private medical records and a VA examination.