Wrist & hand decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the withdrawal of her claim for service connection for pre-diabetes. The remaining claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, bilateral arm disorder, and bilateral wrist disorder are being reviewed with new VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded a new VA examination to assess the etiology of his lumbar spine disability, and the claims for service connection for residuals of right eye injury and neuropathy, bilateral wrists are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to assess his PTSD, heart disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, and left wrist condition.

The Veteran's postoperative residuals of left wrist de Quervain's tendonitis have been manifested by significant limitation of motion, pain, and weakness equating to ankylosis of the left wrist in a position between favorable and unfavorable, but without actual ankylosis or fusion of the left wrist. The criteria for an initial rating of no more than 30 percent have been met.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist and left foot disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating greater than 10 percent for left carpal tunnel syndrome and did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for right carpal tunnel syndrome prior to May 27, 2010, or from May 27, 2010, forward.

The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as these conditions are related to his in-service acoustic trauma. The Veteran's right and left wrist degenerative arthritis were also found to be related to his in-service injuries.,Service connection was established based on direct evidence of a link between the current disabilities and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the St. Petersburg RO to address his claims of increased rating and service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an extraschedular rating for PTSD and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case is now pending with the RO for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation prior to February 1, 2010, and was rated as noncompensable thereafter. The evidence showed limited dorsiflexion but no limitation of motion in line with the forearm or palmar flexion.

The Board has determined that further development is required, including scheduling the Veteran for a Travel Board hearing. The appeal will be remanded to the RO.

The Board has determined that there is competent evidence of a right ankle injury in service and current right ankle disability, with the evidence being in equipoise. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder is granted.

The Veteran's left carpal tunnel syndrome and left ulnar neuritis are rated at a 40 percent disability rating, the highest available under the rating schedule. The condition is characterized by severe incomplete paralysis of the median nerve in the minor hand.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disorders due to lead poisoning and is considering whether new evidence supports reopening these claims. The issues of service connection are mixed, with some conditions granted and others not.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling issue for a personal hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA medical records and scheduling the Veteran for new examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed hearing loss, right shoulder tendinitis, and bilateral wrist strains.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for further development, including an examination to evaluate her ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, antral gastritis, and knee and wrist disabilities. The effective dates for the increased ratings were not granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to assess residual scarring. The claim will be readjudicated based on the new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's left wrist arthritis and cervical spine disability are related to service, granting his claims for these conditions.