Wrist & hand decisions — 2014

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for his left wrist disability prior to June 4, 2012 and an increased rating from that date was denied by the Board. The Veteran's left wrist disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any wrist disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and providing a supplemental opinion from the examiner who conducted his January 2010 VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of the Veteran's contentions regarding left wrist instability, ankylosis, and loss of use since the February and April 2009 surgeries.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C service connection is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or after service. The claims for increased ratings for left carpal tunnel syndrome and calcium chip-like deposits in the elbows are also denied, with the latter being rated at 10% due to current symptoms not meeting criteria for higher ratings. The claim for compensable rating for scar of the left cheek is pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left wrist fracture, finding that there was no satisfactory evidence of an in-service injury and no indication of a possible relationship between the current disability and any event in service. The effective date issue regarding prostate cancer is not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran requested to withdraw the appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, bronchial asthma, lumbosacral strain, left arm radiculopathy associated with cervical strain, right shoulder acromioclavicular degenerative joint disease, residuals of a right wrist injury with fibrositis, left ankle injury, tinnitus, sinusitis, left knee injury, and cervical strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right wrist is currently evaluated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this evaluation is not warranted for an increase.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including articulation disorder (hip), fatigue and low energy, hyperlipidemia, IBS, or diverticulitis. Therefore, his claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting any necessary VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his conditions were found to be service-connected and not warranting an increased rating.

The Veteran's service did not involve duty or visitation to Vietnam, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The Board finds that diabetes mellitus, COPD, hypertension, and lumbar radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed cervical spine disorder, left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, headache disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's metacarpalgia of the left hand and carpal tunnel syndrome are found to be related to his service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected right fifth finger and wrist disabilities have been rated at the maximum available under VA regulations, with no additional compensable ratings for either condition.,The Veteran's residuals of a fractured mandible disability has not manifested to a compensable degree.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinion in a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right index finger fracture. The TDIU claim will also be addressed during this process.

The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints or diagnoses of peripheral neuropathy in his upper extremities. The VA examiner found no evidence of diabetic neuropathy and noted that the numbness was not related to diabetes. Service connection is denied as there is insufficient medical evidence linking the claimed conditions to service.