Wrist & hand decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ankle, right wrist, and left great toe disorders are not related to service. The VA examiner opined that there is no direct link between these conditions and her military service.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for nonunion of the right (dominant) scaphoid wrist, status post Russe procedure with left iliac bone graft and a right scaphoid fusion, with secondary arthritic changes.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be secondary to his service-connected nasal trauma. The Board also finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach disability, a compensable rating for right wrist arthralgia before December 27, 2012, and an increased rating for GAD and MDD after that date. The Board found no evidence linking any current stomach or wrist conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been granted.,Service connection for a left knee disability has been established.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of private medical expenses is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions regarding whether emergency treatment was necessary, if other VA facilities were available, and if the Veteran could have been safely transferred from a non-VA facility.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial rating assigned for CTS, right upper extremity, was found to be appropriate at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the Veteran's inability to travel to a VA medical center. The claims of service connection for left wrist disability and bilateral hip condition are being reviewed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right wrist disability, as the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, respiratory disability, skin disability, and neck disability based on the Veteran's Persian Gulf War service. The right ear pain claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted effective October 17, 2012. The effective date is based on the most recent VA examination conducted on that day.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee and right ankle disorders, finding that current disabilities are of service onset or attributable to military service. The remaining issues remain on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims on a direct basis.

The Veteran's right thumb and wrist disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each since the appeal began, with no higher ratings warranted based on current evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not etiologically related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The remaining claims of increased ratings for a deviated septum and left hand scar, as well as service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, are also being remanded.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability of any of the claimed conditions, and there is no evidence linking these disabilities to service. The VA examinations and VHA specialist opinions do not support a finding that any of the disabilities are related to the 1969 motor vehicle accident.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The gastrointestinal disorder claim is being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board found no evidence of a left wrist injury during service and concluded that the Veteran's current left wrist condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist tendonitis has not met the criteria for a higher rating since December 29, 2006 and from February 27, 2009. The current ratings are appropriate based on the range of motion findings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and consideration of the additional evidence received.