Wrist & hand decisions — 2013

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, left wrist burn scar, digestive disorder, sleep disorder, and ED as secondary to hypertension. The remaining issues of service connection have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tendonitis, an undiagnosed neurological syndrome (joint and muscle pain), and chronic fatigue syndrome have been granted. The conditions are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and the Board finds that no service connection is warranted for cause of death or DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with the effective date of service connection for residuals of gunshot wound to the left arm and related conditions set at November 28, 2012. The Veteran is now rated at 20 percent for his service-connected residuals of gunshot wound to the left arm with fracture of left humerus, and a compensable rating (20 percent) was granted for his service-connected limitation of flexion of the left elbow/forearm due to gunshot wound residuals.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between the Veteran's current right hand and bilateral elbow disabilities, including degenerative joint disease and cubital tunnel syndrome, and his military service. As such, the claims for service connection were denied.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome, but denied reopening of her claim for increase rating for left carpal tunnel syndrome. The decision is mixed as it allows the reopening of one issue while denying the other.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. Service connection claims are pending.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant, as well as automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive automotive equipment only, is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's wrist and hip conditions have not met the criteria for a compensable rating prior to January 21, 2010.,Effective from January 21, 2010, the Veteran's wrist and hip conditions have not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral CTS was not found to be related to his service, and the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied service connection for multiple joint disability other than bilateral hips and knees, finding that the Veteran's diagnosed conditions are not due to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a service connection claim for left and right wrist disorders, as the current medical evidence does not establish an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's initial rating claims for right and left wrist tendonitis were denied, while her service connection claims for rheumatoid arthritis and Raynaud's disease were also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for gouty arthritis of the right wrist, right shoulder, and bilateral knees. The Veteran's current gouty arthritis is directly related to his previously service-connected gouty arthritis of the feet and ankles.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right carpal tunnel syndrome was granted, with a 30 percent rating effective November 28, 2011. The claim for service connection for left wrist disorder (claimed as left carpal tunnel syndrome) was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger fingers, as well as whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to other service-connected disabilities. The claim will be reviewed de novo after this additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include fatigue, sleep apnea, and obesity. The Board granted service connection for bilateral ankle strain and bilateral patella tendonitis as proximately due to his service-connected obesity. Service connection was denied for a meniscus tear of the right knee, chronic pain of the wrists, hands, and fingers (including carpal tunnel syndrome), and hiccups and muscular twitching of the eyes as not related to active service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has remanded the case for additional medical examinations and development to determine if the appellant now suffers from a right hand/wrist disability, including ulnar neuropathy, or any residual of a fracture of the fourth toe of the left foot. The issues remain on appeal.