Wrist & hand decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left wrist disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and right wrist disorder are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including residuals of left elbow injury, left wrist injury, right knee and leg injury, rib fracture, and neck sprain, are not related to active service.

The Veteran's right wrist surgery required continued convalescence from April 1 to 29, 2010. The Board finds that the criteria for an extension of a temporary total rating are met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected hysterectomy with scar, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, degenerative joint disease of the left wrist, right lung scarring, left breast scar, and right forearm scar. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left wrist and frostbite residuals of cold weather injury (frostbite) were denied. The claim for an initial compensable rating for a left wrist scar was granted with a 0% rating.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations of his right wrist disability was denied, and he is not service-connected for any other conditions that would affect the rating. The TDIU issue remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, fractures to the left wrist/hand, vertigo, and nose/sinus/throat problems did not begin in service or are otherwise related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ulnar mononeuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome were not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault. The event (the April 2008 surgery) was not reasonably foreseeable.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and left shoulder condition.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of August 20, 2001 for the award of service connection for a right knee disability, a ganglion cyst of the left wrist and a disability of the left middle finger.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a right wrist disorder related to service or caused by his service-connected right fifth finger disorder.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left wrist ankylosis with ulnar neuropathy is not related to his service-connected left wrist disability and thus, denied. The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right wrist fracture was granted, with a current disability rating of 10 percent effective August 12, 2010. The decision also noted the presence of mild carpal tunnel syndrome and triangular fibrocartilage tear.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disabilities, including memory loss, neurological problems, cervical stenosis, and residuals of a thoracic spine compression fracture, are not related to his service-connected conditions or an in-service incident involving elevated arsenic levels. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for increased evaluations for various hand and wrist disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA examination findings, as well as any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting any of the requested increases in disability ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, as he is unable to bathe himself or protect himself from daily hazards without assistance.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of entitlement to an increased rating for a right foot disability and entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. Specifically, VA examinations are required to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right foot disability and determine whether his obstructive sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his period of active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.