Wrist & hand decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's upper extremity disorder is not related to service or service-connected diabetes mellitus, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and right hand disorder (carpal tunnel syndrome), finding that her current conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for TDIU, DEA benefits, and service connection for psoriatic arthritis of the bilateral hips, chronic costochondritis/Tietze disease of the thoracic rib cage, bilateral CTS, and cicatricial neuromacutis (also claimed as headaches). The effective dates for these determinations are based on the earliest date entitlement arose.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing at his local regional office in Wilmington, Delaware.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral wrist disability, diagnosed as Keinbocks disease. The Veteran's current right hip and bilateral ankle disabilities are not currently diagnosed.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Board hearing by video conference. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions are not addressed as the appeal is in process.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to evaluate the nature and severity of his service-connected right wrist disability. The AOJ should also consider whether he is entitled to an extra-schedular rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a left wrist disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not caused by his inservice injury. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence showing current hearing loss.

The Board has determined that there is no neurological impairment associated with the right wrist fracture residuals and no compensable bowel impairment associated with the service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the need for aid and attendance, which is sufficient to meet the criteria for SMC at the O rate.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain service treatment records and VA treatment records, as well as to schedule the Veteran for examinations. The claims will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left wrist tendonitis was withdrawn by the appellant.,The Veteran is entitled to a compensable evaluation (10%) for bilateral pes planus from September 16, 2005, and an increased rating of 10% effective December 8, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that it is related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure. The issue of entitlement to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist remains pending.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for arthritis of the shoulders, wrists, and cervical spine. The conditions are not related to her military service.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis and found no evidence of an upper respiratory disorder. Service connection was granted for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, but the claim is not about this condition.

The Veteran meets the percentage requirements for TDIU due to one service-connected disability rated at 40 percent or more and his combined service-connected disabilities are rated at 70 percent. The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of tendonitis and rheumatoid arthritis of the right arm, wrist, and elbow. The appeals were based on a lack of in-service injury or disease, no continuity of symptoms since separation from service, and no evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hand and wrist disabilities, finding that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed disability of the hands or wrists. The arthritis found in the right hand was not shown to be related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for wrist, hip and back disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.