Wrist & hand decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for further development including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA clinical records, as well as a supplemental opinion regarding the left leg and carpal tunnel syndrome claims. The RO will also issue statements of the case on new issues.

The Board denied service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome and found that an earlier effective date for additional compensation on account of a dependent spouse is not warranted. The Veteran's left carpal tunnel syndrome was determined to be unrelated to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination of his service-connected peptic ulcer disease, degenerative joint disease of the right wrist, and residuals of right wrist radial nerve damage.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the RO in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not incur any of the claimed disabilities during his active duty service or any period of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA. Therefore, service connection for all issues is denied.

The Board has restored the Veteran's service-connected ratings for status post contusion, right wrist, left ankle strain, and right ankle strain to 10 percent effective June 11, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right radial head fracture with traumatic arthritis aggravated his current right wrist and/or right shoulder disability, as well as a need for further examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disability. The cervical spine disability is not related to active service, nor is it secondary to a service-connected disability. Carpal tunnel syndrome was also not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor is it secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for a comprehensive evaluation of the functional effects of his service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal seeking a higher disability rating for right wrist tendonitis.

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is related to his service-connected type II diabetes. The Board has granted the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining treatment records and a VA fibromyalgia examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her bilateral wrist disorder, which includes wrist pain with X-ray evidence of probable erosion at the base of the fifth metacarpal and osteopenia at the medial aspect of the hamate, was granted. The current rating is 10 percent.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right wrist disability, finding that his symptoms did not warrant an increased evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome is related to service, including years of typing in service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence, including a recent grant of service connection for coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including headaches, spine conditions, and hand/tendon disorders. The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an opinion on the impact of these disabilities on employment.

The Veteran's nerve damage to the left wrist is currently rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 8515, and a higher rating of 30 percent is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development of the evidence, including obtaining VA clinical records and scheduling a VA neurologic examination. The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for carpal tunnel syndrome will be reconsidered after this additional development.