Wrist & hand decisions — 2012

The Veteran's combined rating is 60 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The VA examiner found that his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain VA outpatient treatment records and clinical records from the Veteran's service period, as well as any private or employment records that may support his claims. The Veteran will be given an opportunity to respond to these requests.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of his claims based on new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, chronic rhinitis, and right wrist disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for the claimed conditions, including migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, left ankle osteoarthritis and ankylosis of bilateral hand, fingers, wrist, elbow, shoulder disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for right lumbar radiculopathy as a component of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's right wrist disability was rated at 10 percent from April 12, 2007, to August 7, 2008. The claim for a higher rating was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hand carpal tunnel syndrome is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected anxiety disorder and recurrent right wrist wart, as well as their impact on employment and daily activities. The RO/AMC will also obtain any outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 30, 2002, for the award of service connection for post-operative right hand ganglion cyst scar residuals is granted. The effective date will be set as of April 27, 2000.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral upper extremity disability, including carpal tunnel syndrome, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left hand numbness is related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist disability does not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability have not been met.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues that had been remanded by the Board, including service connection claims and a higher evaluation for PTSD.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left upper extremities, as it was not caused or aggravated by any in-service injury or event. The Veteran's current carpal tunnel syndrome is considered more likely due to post-service factors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and right elbow epicondylitis.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist disability, characterized as a left wrist fracture with nonunion of old scaphoid fracture/scapholunate ligament tear, status post fusion, is currently rated at 20 percent from September 1, 2009. The appeal for higher ratings prior to that date and from September 1, 2009 has been granted.

The Board denied service connection for right wrist disability, bilateral toenail fungus (claimed as secondary to diabetes), and malignant melanoma and basal cell carcinoma on the face (claimed as due to herbicide exposure). The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, left wrist disability, and fracture of the mandible were also addressed but are not discussed in this decision.