Wrist & hand decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a left knee disorder. The Veteran now asserts that he experiences left knee problems as a result of his service-connected right knee and right ankle disorders, which would allow for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left hand/wrist osteoarthritis is due to a remote injury sustained during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist with reflex sympathetic dystrophy was found to not warrant a higher rating prior to February 2, 2001 and effective from that date. The current disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing right wrist disability was aggravated by his active duty service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and hand disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records, update his vocational rehabilitation folder, and provide him with a new VA examination. The claims will be readjudicated based on the updated evidence.

Service connection was granted for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist and left wrist. The Veteran's low back strain is rated at 10 percent prior to July 5, 2005; 20 percent from July 5, 2005 to June 7, 2011; and 40 percent since June 7, 2011.

The Board found that the non-VA medical treatment provided on June 25, 2009 was not authorized by VA and did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment. Therefore, payment or reimbursement of the expenses is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his status post laceration of the left wrist was denied as there is no evidence of nonlinear, deep, unstable, or painful scarring that adversely affects any function.,Service connection for sleep apnea was also denied as the competent and probative evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current disability is due to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness.

The Board found that the current multiple joint pain, including bilateral shoulder tendonitis and impingement syndrome, bilateral elbow tendonitis, bilateral wrist tendonitis, and bilateral hand tendonitis, did not have onset in service or be otherwise related to an injury or event during service. Therefore, service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for onychomycosis of the great toenails and residuals of the excision of a ganglion cyst, right wrist are denied as there is no evidence that either condition warrants an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The VA determined that the Veteran's right wrist discoloration was not caused by or a result of her service-connected DeQuervain's tenosynovitis, and therefore compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right wrist injury and cervical/lumbar spine disorder. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that neither a disability shown in service nor a service-connected disability caused or contributed to his demise.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist degenerative joint disease is aggravated by his service-connected left foot disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his service-connected left wrist disability and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are granted, with the left wrist disability rated at 70% from September 10, 2012.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome and therefore, her claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left wrist disabilities are not related to his active duty service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability and numbness of the hands is being remanded due to incomplete examination reports. The VA will schedule him for an appropriate examination to determine the etiology of his disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.