Wrist & hand decisions — 2012

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder bursitis with ulnar neuropathy, duodenal ulcer, tinnitus, right wrist sprain with small degenerative cyst, otitis media, and hemorrhoids, preclude him from securing and maintaining gainful employment. The Board grants entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a service-connected disability for any of the conditions she claims, including PTSD, hiatal hernia, hypertension, burn scar on the right middle finger, sleep disorder, hordeolum of the right eyelid, arthritis of the cervical spine, arthritis of the knees, arthritis of the feet, arthritis of the hands, arthritis of the wrists, arthritis of the elbows, and arthritis of the right shoulder.

The Veteran's service-connected residual, laceration of the left forearm and wrist scar is manifested by weakened grip, fatigability and incoordination of the left hand and wrist that most nearly approximates severe injury of Muscle Group VII. The Board finds that a 30 percent rating, but no higher, has been met.

The Board denied service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome and right knee disability. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for residuals of a right wrist fracture was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is on the issue of entitlement to a higher initial rating for right ulnar neuropathy/carpal tunnel syndrome. The case has been remanded due to incomplete development and the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of any current ankle disorder and carpal tunnel syndrome, including whether these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be remanded for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, mood disorder due to chronic pain, and various musculoskeletal conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an examination to determine if the Veteran has a chronic disability involving his right wrist, hand, and/or fingers, and whether such is related to symptoms present in service or to his service-connected cervical spine condition.

The Veteran's right wrist disorder, characterized by unfavorable ankylosis, is rated at the highest possible level of disability under DC 5214.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a compensable rating were denied. The effective dates of the service connection awards remain at November 8, 2001.

The Veteran's left carpal tunnel syndrome was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board denied the claims for increased ratings for his right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including issuance of a Statement of the Case and VA examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, and left wrist disorder are being remanded. His claim for increased ratings of his left knee disabilities is decided in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for joint pain, other than the low back, right leg, right shoulder, feet, and left wrist, was denied as there is no evidence of a qualifying chronic disability or a medically unexplained multisymptom illness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and left wrist disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his active military service, nor can they be presumed to have been incurred therein. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral elbow, shoulder, and wrist disabilities are not service-connected as they did not exist prior to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not causally related to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current left knee, left ankle, or left wrist disorder, nor any eye injury residuals. The Veteran's claims for service connection on this basis have been denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board grants service connection for HIV.