Wrist & hand decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's arthritis of the right shoulder, elbow and wrist was not incurred or aggravated during active duty. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating for his scar residuals of excision of a ganglion cyst from the left wrist, as it does not cause any functional impairment. The right wrist tendon repair remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome and right thumb arthritis are related to service. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, left hip disorder, right knee disability, and left foot disorder (plantar fasciitis) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for her right carpal tunnel syndrome, right knee disability, left knee disability, and low back disability have been denied. The initial rating for the right knee instability has also been denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 18, 2008, for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain is denied. The RO has already assigned the earliest possible effective date provided by law.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot bunions and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were not incurred in service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during his active duty. The VA examinations found no direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death from multiple myeloma, which was not shown in service or within a presumptive period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not sustain a disease or injury of the left ankle or bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome during service and does not currently have such disabilities. As such, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU from July 1, 2009 to September 8, 2009 is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100% schedular rating for coronary artery disease effective May 17, 2005. The appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability from right wrist surgery performed at VA in April 2007 is dismissed as the Veteran's claim has been mooted by his already granted schedular rating.

The Veteran's cervical radiculopathy is found to be secondary to his service-connected cervical spondylosis, and the claim for carpal tunnel syndrome as secondary to cervical spondylosis is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial schedular ratings and extra-schedular evaluations were denied. The TDIU claim remains part of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic, ratable vision disorder or any associated disability as a result of his military service. His claimed right hand disorders are not due to disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by his military service. The criteria for a rating higher than 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability have not been met at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity, which is claimed to be secondary to a service-connected left wrist disability, has been remanded due to insufficient opinion regarding whether the carpal tunnel syndrome was aggravated by the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spondylosis with degenerative changes was granted. Claims for arthritis of the left wrist and hand, both feet, left elbow, right elbow, shoulders, hips, ankles, and knees were denied.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities for further development, including obtaining a VA opinion on whether the Veteran is unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, throat ulcers, hypertension, GERD, and fatigue. The decision is based on the current evidence not showing additional impairment beyond sensory disturbances in both feet.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional service treatment records, verify dates of active duty and inactive duty training (IDT), and schedule a VA examination for his claimed cervical spine and right hand disabilities. The issue of PTSD will also be addressed in the statement of the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple scars and dental treatment, finding that the evidence was in equipoise on whether his right knee disability caused injuries during a bicycle accident. The Court vacated this decision and remanded the case.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left wrist disability was denied as the current symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation under the applicable diagnostic codes.