Wrist & hand decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral wrist disability and low back disability was denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of these disabilities, nor any evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to the conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist disability, characterized by pain and reduced grip strength with mild soft tissue swelling and degenerative changes, does not warrant an increased evaluation beyond the current 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the right wrist disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by military service, and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The right knee and hip disorders did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical strain and right carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as his claim for a noncompensable rating for onychomycosis. The effective date of service connection for sleep apnea was set at June 5, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee and back disabilities, but denied service connection for right wrist disability. The Veteran's left knee condition is considered to have been aggravated by military service, while his back condition increased during service. His right wrist condition was not diagnosed at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities, including those involving undiagnosed illnesses, are not shown to be related to her active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The other service-connected conditions are not entitled to higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to her failure to report for a scheduled Travel Board hearing. She has requested that the hearing be rescheduled at the Atlanta, Georgia RO.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of a chest disability, right wrist disability, and right ankle disability. The case is being remanded for further development including examinations to determine the likely etiology of these disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left arm carpal tunnel syndrome, right arm ulnar neuritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, and a stomach disorder. The decision found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service and were not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's lymphatic or glandular disorder is not service-connected.,There is no evidence of a chronic arm disorder in service, and the current bilateral elbow and wrist arthritis are not linked to service.

The Veteran's right and left wrist disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, with no evidence of more than the normal limitations of motion or x-ray findings warranting higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development of evidence, including obtaining updated treatment records and conducting further examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection for wrist and neck disabilities are being reviewed.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for her degenerative spurring of the left wrist, as there is no evidence of additional functional loss due to pain or other factors. The service-connected bilateral Achilles tendinitis has been granted based on its onset during active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability of the left foot, right arm disability, left wrist disability, stomach disability (to include GERD), and headache. The Board also denied reopening the claim for a stomach disability due to lack of new or material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development regarding the need for an annual clothing allowance due to needing a splint on his left wrist. The case will be reviewed by the Chief Medical Director or their designee to determine if the splint also treats his service-connected residuals of left elbow epicondylectomy with post-operative scar and pain, and weakness of the left forearm, hand, and wrist.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for new examinations as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations. The claims of increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lumbar strain. The Veteran also requested service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), residuals of a bilateral mandible fracture, chondromalacia patella of the left knee, and chondromalacia patella of the right knee. These issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination of his left wrist disability and obtaining any relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims were granted, with some issues receiving increased evaluations and others having effective dates assigned. The service-connected conditions include left wrist fracture, left ankle disability, asthma, and a skin disorder.