Wrist & hand decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current left wrist condition, as well as whether there is at least a 50 percent probability or greater that she has a current left wrist condition that is etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing her with new VA examinations to address whether her current conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his left wrist fracture with posttraumatic degenerative arthritis and painful motion, finding that the residuals did not meet the criteria for such an increase.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his hearing loss, right eardrum disorder, knee disorder, vertigo, dizziness, and wrist fractures.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and initial compensable evaluation for right wrist repetitive motion injury has been granted. The neurological disorder of the left upper extremity (wrist) is also now service connected.

The Board has granted service connection for disability manifested by joint pain in the bilateral ankles, knees, wrists, and elbows. The joints with arthralgia (ankles, knees, wrists, and elbows) are considered to have no known clinical diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current right wrist, left wrist, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities are not causally related to his service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination. Without an examination, the Board cannot determine if the claimed conditions are related to service or secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left wrist disability, including as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease and due to an undiagnosed illness, is being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection due to lack of evidence that could change the assigned effective date, which is August 16, 2005.

The case is being remanded to locate the Veteran's service treatment and personnel records, which are currently missing. The Veteran will be provided an opportunity to submit copies of any records he may have in his possession.

The Board has determined that additional VCAA notice is required as the current notice did not include a list of service-connected disabilities and an explanation of the information or evidence needed to establish a disability rating and effective date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected torn ligament of the right wrist and allergic rhinitis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5215. The Board finds no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain additional service records and verify his claimed periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The Board will then consider the remaining issues for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for groin or scrotal pain, left carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic lumbar strain, spastic colon, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and hemorrhoids have been denied. The claim for major depressive disorder was granted with a non-compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right wrist disability and Graves disease were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cold injury residuals and knee osteoarthritis were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the first metatarsophalangeal joints of both feet, but not for his hands or wrists.,Service connection for right wrist carpal tunnel surgery under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was granted.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. Service connection is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and seizures as residuals of a head injury, and for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left wrist fracture. The claim for heart disability is addressed separately.