Wrist & hand decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran's numbness of the toes is related to his in-service cold injury/frostbite or other etiology.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address whether the Veteran's current right thumb numbness is related to his service-connected residuals of a right thumb strain and/or diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's neurological deficit of the left wrist, hand, and fingers is currently rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 8516 for mild incomplete paralysis. The disability has been found to be manifested by pain and numbness without associated functional loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's current carpal tunnel syndrome is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right wrist disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional examinations to assess the functional impairment caused by his service-connected disabilities and for further development.

The Veteran was awarded SMC at the R-1 rate for purposes of accrued benefits due to his need for regular aid and attendance, as well as loss of use of both hands from service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected knee, shoulder, lumbar spine, elbow, and carpal tunnel disabilities have been granted initial compensable ratings. The effective dates for these ratings are not specified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist disability and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no current disability or evidence of in-service injury. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including prostatitis, memory loss, refractive errors of the eye, wrist condition, sinus bradycardia, hypercholesterolemia, ischemic heart disease, PTSD, sleep apnea, left elbow scar, pseudofolliculitis barbae, right hand middle finger acquired deformity, bilateral peripheral retinal degeneration with dysfunctional tear syndrome and vitreous floaters, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The claims were denied as there was no competent evidence of a service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing chronic osteomyelitis of the right wrist was not aggravated by military service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is April 28, 2009. The Veteran's claim was received on April 28, 2009, and she did not submit a claim for this condition between February 24, 2004 (the date her original claim was denied) and April 28, 2009.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current back disability, right wrist disability, and/or disability manifested by burns on the bilateral arms and chest. The Veteran's claims are REMANDED for these purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right wrist disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting medical records and need for clarification of residuals from a right wrist injury during service.

The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for osteoarthritis of the left wrist. The case has been remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, as well as incomplete development for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to April 25, 2014.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected ganglion cyst. The issues include rating adjustments and service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and new examinations. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for low back strain and ganglion left wrist are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.