Wrist & hand decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist disorder caused his left wrist disorder, and the Board finds that service connection for a left wrist disorder on a secondary basis has been met.

The Veteran has a current diagnosis of right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome which manifested during active military service and has been symptomatic since service. The Board finds the Veteran's statements of carpal tunnel symptoms in his right wrist since service to be credible and grants service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his left wrist disability and to provide a more definitive opinion regarding the etiology of his low back disability.

The Veteran's left wrist disability was rated at 20 percent from May 22, 2006 to the present. The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the period from August 24, 2005 to May 21, 2006.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist and left knee disorders have been manifested by complaints of pain throughout the pendency of this case. However, even when taking into account his complaints of pain, the record does not reflect any period(s) where his right wrist was manifested by ankylosis or impairment analogous thereto, nor any period(s) where his left knee had flexion limited to 30 degrees or less or extension limited to 15 degrees or more. Therefore, he is not entitled to a rating in excess of the currently assigned ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a back disability has been dismissed as the RO granted service connection in December 2012. The remaining claims of increased ratings for knee, wrist, PTSD and migraine headaches are being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed left and right wrist disorders are not causally or etiologically related to his service. The preponderance of evidence is against the claims.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's condition only manifested as mild neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain, PTSD, and right wrist were withdrawn by the Veteran during his hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his right wrist disability, as it has been over 5 years since he was last examined and he alleges worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's right and left carpal tunnel syndrome were rated at 10 percent prior to April 10, 2009, and at 30 percent thereafter.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death due to COPD, prostate cancer, and chronic kidney disease. The examiner concluded that these conditions were less likely related to military service.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the hands and feet, a left elbow disability, residuals of a broken right wrist, a left foot fallen arch, a blind right eye, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and depression, all for purposes of accrued benefits.

The Veteran's right wrist disability has been rated at 70 percent since November 19, 2013, for loss of use of the major hand.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a medical examination to address his current diagnoses of right leg, foot, and wrist pain.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand instructions, specifically regarding a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's right wrist disability is related to his military service and whether the injury to his right hand in February 1984 contributed to his current right wrist disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examination and notification. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to have originated during his period of active duty and service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist and lumbar spine disabilities have been rated based on their respective diagnostic codes, with the right and left lower extremity radiculopathy issues being addressed separately.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and to attempt to obtain private treatment records. The claims for increased ratings, service connection, and other issues are pending.