Wrist & hand decisions — 2014

Service connection granted for osteoarthritis of the left wrist (non-dominant) and right wrist (dominant). Effective dates assigned.,Increased rating granted for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him incapable of obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU from November 18, 2010.

The Veteran does not have a current left wrist disability that is etiologically related to his active duty service, and arthritis of the left wrist did not become manifest within one year of service separation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including radiculopathy of the lower extremities, right carpal tunnel syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, and a cervical spine disorder. The decision also addressed his claim for PTSD based on fear of hostile military activity due to his Gulf War service.

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome has been evaluated at 10 percent for each arm, and the Board finds that this evaluation is adequate given her symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy, neuropathy, or carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and sleep apnea have been denied. The January 2014 VA examination indicated that the Veteran does not currently have these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with effective dates set at November 30, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the current severity of his left wrist disability and whether any right shoulder or hip disabilities are related to service. The TDIU claim will also be remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Veteran's traumatic brain injury and obstructive sleep apnea are found to be service-connected. The PTSD is assigned a 50% disability rating, the left knee and right knee conditions are each rated at 10%, the shoulder strains are not service-connected, the wrist condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating, the spine strain is rated at 10%, the ankle strains do not warrant a higher rating, the hiatal hernia with GERD is rated at 10%, and the headaches are assigned a 30% disability rating. The Veteran's hypertension, DVT, restless leg syndrome, IBS, erectile dysfunction, and hypertensive cardiovascular disease are each rated at 10%.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to additional evidence received since the last decision. The claims will be reviewed again by the RO.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left upper extremity disabilities, including shoulder, arm, elbow and wrist issues, are not due to or aggravated by his service-connected fracture of the left ring finger. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions were unrelated to his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's hypertension has been rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Veteran's other service-connected conditions have not been linked to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating for left ear hearing loss, right ankle disability, and left wrist disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss or service connection for any of the other conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for reopening service connection for left ear hearing loss, right knee disability, and right arm/hand disability. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for below-the-knee left leg amputation was also denied.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeal for SMC based on aid and attendance. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted as it relates to his service-connected pain disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist disorder, bilateral hand disorder, tinnitus, and an acquired mental disorder (PTSD). The hearing loss claim was also denied as new and material evidence had not been received. The right eye condition claim was also denied as new and material evidence had not been received.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted for right shoulder bursitis, left shoulder separation (previously considered acute), bilateral hand disability, and left hip degenerative joint disease. However, the claim for left shoulder separation remains denied.,Service connection has not been established for left shoulder separation due to lack of evidence showing a chronic condition during service or any subsequent continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for VA examinations to assess the severity of the service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ganglion cyst of the left wrist, tinnitus, and right foot disability was denied. The Veteran's anxiety disorder not otherwise specified with PTSD has been granted a rating of 30% prior to July 7, 2009.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right wrist disability is not related to his service, as there was no chronic residual of a 1968 right hand injury documented during or after service. The evidence does not establish continuity of symptomatology and the medical opinion indicates no causal connection between the in-service injury and the current condition.