Wrist & hand decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist disability, diagnosed as ganglia left wrist with chronic pain, is causally related to his period of active military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome. Service connection is granted for a lumbar spine disability, depressive disorder with anxiety, and bilateral ankle, knee, hip, wrist, elbow, and shoulder disabilities due to undiagnosed illness or in-service exposure.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal seeking increased initial ratings for his service-connected right shoulder, left knee and right carpal tunnel syndrome disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for low back disability, bilateral CTS, and bilateral heel spurs. The case has been remanded due to incomplete records from the King Khalid Military City in Saudi Arabia and missing VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and his other diagnosed psychiatric disabilities are not shown to be etiologically related to service. The claims for right knee disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and bilateral leg cramps were withdrawn by the Veteran during a hearing before the Board. Service connection is denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and a mood disorder), right lower extremity disability, left lower extremity disability, low back disability, right knee disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and bilateral leg cramps.

The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity neurological disability and left carpal tunnel syndrome are found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. His right knee replacement residuals warrant a 60% rating, effective April 27, 2011, while his left knee replacement residuals prior to that date warrant the same rating.

The Board found no evidence of current hernia or back disability during the appeal period and denied service connection for these conditions. The wrist disability claim is pending.

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected left ankle/leg, bilateral wrist, or low back disability and denied the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right wrist, right hand, and left hand disabilities have been denied.,The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the right hand and left hand disabilities.

The Veteran's right wrist disability was rated at 30 percent effective June 4, 2012. The issue of secondary service connection for a stomach disorder is referred to the AOJ.

The Board denied entitlement to an extraschedular evaluation for the left wrist disability with loss of use of the left hand and denied entitlement to a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone not meeting the criteria for a total disability rating.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand has been reopened and granted. The Board finds that there is sufficient evidence to establish a current disability, as indicated by medical records showing carpal tunnel syndrome. The Board also found that the Veteran's current condition is related to his period of service.

The Veteran's left carpal tunnel syndrome was not shown to meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to May 7, 2012. From May 7, 2012 onwards, he is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right wrist, knee, and ankle disabilities are not related to his service. The VA physician provided an opinion stating it is less likely than not that these conditions were caused or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and earlier effective dates, finding no new evidence to reopen or support service connection for various conditions. The appeals were dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been rated based on their current manifestations.,A 10 percent rating is granted for residuals of a right ankle chip fracture, as the evidence shows painful motion.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, including carpal tunnel syndrome, is currently rated at 10 percent under the rating criteria for limitation of motion. The claim for a higher evaluation is denied as the current rating adequately reflects his symptoms and impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, low back, and left wrist disorders are related to his military service. The evidence shows that he experienced pain in these areas since his time on active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.