Wrist & hand decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and a right wrist disability, do not render him unemployable as he is capable of performing substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder or left wrist disability related to his military service. The evidence shows no in-service injury, and post-service treatment records do not show any link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as an addendum to the previous VA examination report. The Veteran's claim of service connection for arthritis will be reconsidered.

The Veteran does not have a current respiratory disorder or blood disorder.,Bilateral hand disorder is service-connected as it was incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including new examinations and issuance of a statement of the case addressing service connection issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The other conditions listed were also found not to be related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lyme disease, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, angioedema, and a kidney condition. The Veteran is not eligible for special monthly pension based on aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to obtain treatment records and determine the nature, severity, and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left wrist disability have been denied by the RO/AMC. The VA has not provided a rating in excess of 10 percent for the period from January 1, 2007 through December 3, 2008 and has continued to deny the claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent since February 1, 2009.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active duty service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need for another VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee, wrist, and foot disorders.

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 disabilities. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fractures of bilateral wrists, secondary to his service-connected PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of both his right and left wrists. The Board has determined that additional development, including a VA examination, is needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional right wrist disability due to VA surgical treatment in June 2010 at the Pittsburgh VAMC. The case has been remanded to obtain additional medical records, including a copy of the informed consent document and operative report from his September 2011 surgery. A VA examination is also needed to determine if he has an additional right wrist disability as a result of the June 2010 surgical treatment by VA.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing at the Togus, Maine RO. The issues include increased evaluations for left wrist fracture and gastritis, service connection claims for sleep apnea, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, hypertension, migraines, and weight gain.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development and examination, including for an evaluation of erectile dysfunction and scars. The issues on appeal include entitlement to a compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction, service connection for scars of the right wrist and thumb, and service connection for a scar of the left forearm.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his renal cell carcinoma and dysthymia, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since August 1, 2009.