Wrist & hand decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and the Veteran's vocational rehabilitation file. The appeal is now pending again due to the referral of a CUE claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disorder, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, lumbar spine disorder, psychiatric disorder, and ganglion cyst of the right wrist were not incurred in or aggravated by service.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling examinations and obtaining records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the basic eligibility requirements for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his inability to walk and use a cane.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection based on the current medical findings.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal regarding service connection for malaria. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and sleep apnea were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The effective date of the grant of service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, left and right medial collateral ligament strain, and limitation of motion of the right and left knee was assigned as July 31, 1993.

The Board found that the Veteran's left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome did not result from service and was not caused or aggravated by any service-connected disability, including her right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected knee and wrist disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims due to issues with obtaining inpatient hospital records and converting the Veteran's separation audiogram. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for any of the conditions he is seeking service connection for, and thus, his claims are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected low back disability and right wrist disability were denied as the evidence did not show that either condition warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have residuals of a cut on the left hand etiologically related to service.,The Board also found that the Veteran does not have a left wrist scar that is etiologically related to service.,Regarding diabetes mellitus, type II, the Board determined that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic right wrist, left leg (shin splints), right ankle, or right knee disability that was incurred during service. The Veteran's symptoms were not shown to be related to his service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, and increased ratings for hypoparathyroidism and hypothyroidism due to further development being needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a personal hearing, and no hearing has yet been conducted. The appeal is being returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no current disability or evidence of a chronic condition during service. The Veteran's testimony regarding his symptoms and treatment were considered but did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer and related incontinence residuals have effectively resulted in loss of both lower extremities such as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. As such, he is entitled to specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's bruxism and right wrist fracture have been rated as 10 percent disabling. The claim for higher ratings is denied.