Wrist & hand decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that there is no current hip disability, and thus the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hip arthritis cannot be granted. The claims for low back and right hand/wrist disabilities are also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist and elbow disabilities have been rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further development, including the provision of an examination and consideration of whether his service-connected conditions alone rendered him unemployable prior to August 15, 2000.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing the Veteran with proper VCAA notice. The issues of service connection for a bilateral knee disability and hepatitis C are also being remanded as they were not properly adjudicated on their de novo basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to assess the current severity of his right wrist disability. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also raised.

The Veteran is granted a VA clothing allowance for 2012 due to his service-connected left wrist and forearm disability causing wear or tear of his clothing.

The Veteran's bilateral wrist condition was caused by a VA-contracted procedure in which the doctor failed to exercise reasonable care, and thus meets the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's neurological residuals of a right wrist injury, characterized as carpal tunnel syndrome, were rated at 30 percent effective September 2012. The orthopedic residuals have been granted but not increased beyond the initial 10 percent assigned.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of pneumonia and hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his military service. Service connection for bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of both wrists. The case is being remanded to obtain VA treatment records and to schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and the provision of updated treatment records. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of an examination and scheduling issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disability and the severity of his left wrist ganglion cyst.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing VA treatment records and the need to consider the Veteran's participation in the VA Vocational Rehabilitation Program.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain and cubital syndrome of the right elbow with history of carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist are being remanded due to inadequate consideration of functional loss, additional range of motion after repetitive use, pain on movement, and interference with sitting, standing, and/or weight bearing. A new VA examination is needed for both conditions.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to obtain updated medical evidence and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Statement of the Case (SOC) on the service connection claim and further development on the temporary total evaluation claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other factors linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the appellant's current back, shoulder, foot, and hand disabilities did not manifest during his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), and are not etiologically related to service. As such, service connection was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder (GERD and gastritis) on the basis that it was incurred in or aggravated by service. The remaining issues of service connection for residuals of malaria, left arm disorders, bilateral leg disorders, psychiatric disorders, and dizziness/hot flashes are remanded for further development.