Wrist & hand decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and aortic valve sclerosis, as these conditions are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's other claims have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist disability and the residuals of a left third metacarpal fracture were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for bilateral pes planus was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for cognitive impairment and memory loss, bilateral eye disability, bilateral hearing loss, or bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome as these conditions are not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the current bilateral knee disability is likely due to service. Service connection was also granted for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, but a secondary service connection claim for this condition remains pending.

The Veteran's current left upper extremity disabilities, including carpal tunnel syndrome, acromioclavicular joint and glenohumeral joint degenerative features, and mild osteoarthritis of the wrist, are not related to his military service.

The RO reduced the disability ratings for both service-connected conditions, but the reduction in the rating for incomplete paralysis of the ulnar nerve was not proper.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as it affects the combined disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for residuals of a right wrist fracture with carpal dissociation due to inadequate development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral upper extremity neurologic disability including peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome. The appeal is remanded due to inadequate VA examination report.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, a skin disorder, headaches, neuropsychological symptoms (muscle twitches), cardiovascular disorders, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, respiratory disorders (claimed as mesothelioma), and GERD. The decision also addressed an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DeQuervain's tenosynovitis of the right wrist with mild mid-compartment joint space narrowing and mild degenerative changes at the triscaphe joint, as well as his DeQuervain's tenosynovitis of the left wrist, are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a restoration of a 30 percent rating for his left wrist disability was granted, effective December 1, 2009. The Board found that the evidence did not demonstrate material improvement in the Veteran's condition at the time of the reduction and restored the original 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's benign left submandibular mass, lesion affecting the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are all found to be related to her period of active service.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right and left wrists have been rated at 10 percent since December 5, 2008. The ratings remain unchanged as of July 28, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an etiological opinion regarding whether the Veteran's in-service duties caused his bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the absence of proper notice for a requested hearing, and he would like to be scheduled for a videoconference hearing at the RO in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability is denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of rating excess of 10 percent for residuals of right and left wrist fractures due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for left wrist scaphoid fracture has been granted at a 10 percent evaluation, effective October 31, 2008. The current diagnosis is degenerative arthritis with painful limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on multiple service-connected conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The claim for left ear hearing loss was not substantiated as the Veteran did not have sufficient impairment to qualify as a disability. The claim for service connection for residuals of left leg thrombosis, respiratory disability, and left knee disability is addressed in the REMAND section. Other claims are denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for his service-connected disabilities of the right shoulder, left shoulder, right wrist, and right knee have been denied.