Wrist & hand decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ring finger disorder is granted as it was incurred in service. The claims for service connection for hip disorders and for an increased rating for right hand injury are remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 10 percent for residuals of ganglionectomy and postoperative pilonidal cyst, effective April 24, 2008. The Veteran's right wrist has painful motion prior to this date.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's left wrist disability. The Veteran is seeking an initial compensable rating for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including cancer and joint issues, were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist tendinitis, but denied service connection for right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

The Board found that the Veteran's current left hand condition is not related to his in-service injury and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting left wrist condition did not become aggravated during his first period of honorable service, and thus denied service connection for this disability.

The Board denied reopening of the claim for service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's left wrist disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The lumbar strain was rated as 10% prior to May 28, 2008, and as 20% thereafter.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of ocular pressure, hyperlipidemia, and dental trauma issues due to her withdrawal during the October 2012 hearing. The claims for increased ratings for cervical spine disability, toes of the left and right feet, and osteoporosis are also dismissed as they have been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as panic attacks and PTSD), left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, low back disorder, or neck disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected as they were not incurred or aggravated during his active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran likely has bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome related to his service and does not have a right hand disorder other than carpal tunnel syndrome. The claim for service connection was granted.

The Veteran's claimed left shoulder, left knee, and bilateral wrist disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board denied these claims as the evidence did not support a direct link to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for the conditions appealed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and unverified periods of active duty. The Veteran's claims for left wrist injury and back disorder are being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and left wrist disabilities had their onset during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome was not related to his service-connected right wrist disability and denied both his claim for service connection for CTS and his request for an initial compensable evaluation for his right wrist disability.

The Board has determined that there is no current left upper extremity neurological disorder related to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board found that the February 1980 rating decision denying service connection for a right arm and wrist disability was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, as there was no evidence of pre-existing conditions at the time of the decision.