Wrist & hand decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim of service connection for depression was reopened and granted. He is also awarded a higher initial rating for urinary frequency, increased ratings for his wrist disabilities, and TDIU.

The Veteran seeks service connection for his left upper extremity disability, including his wrist, forearm, and elbow. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding whether the pre-existing condition was aggravated by his ACDUTRA service.

The Veteran's arthritis, including rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, did not have its clinical onset during a period of active service and is not otherwise related to active duty service.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, specifically carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), did not have its clinical onset during a period of active service and is not otherwise related to active duty.

The Veteran's right wrist/hand and lumbar spine disabilities are granted as secondary to her service-connected right shoulder bursitis and left knee/foot disabilities, respectively. She is currently rated at 30% for the right shoulder disability.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the Veteran's right wrist strain, finding that it meets the criteria under Diagnostic Code 5215.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for higher initial evaluations for PTSD, scars of the right wrist and left elbow, shrapnel wound residuals in multiple locations, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeals were based on service connection being decided on the merits.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist disability, which includes a fracture of the navicular bone and carpal tunnel syndrome, is rated at 70 percent since January 26, 2012. The RO has granted an increased rating to reflect this condition but notes that any further increase would be subject to the amputation rule due to the combined rating for all disabilities affecting his right hand being at its maximum of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% rating for osteoporosis of the right wrist with cuneiform fusion to the hamate corporal was denied as it is not factually ascertainable that an increase in disability warranting a 10% rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.59 occurred during the one year prior to receipt of her claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an effective date were denied. The Board found that new evidence was not received to reopen his right wrist disorder claim, and the service-connected conditions of the knee did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or separate effective dates.

The Veteran's cervical strain with mild degenerative changes at C4-5 and C5-6, lumbar strain, right shoulder degenerative joint disease with partial supraspinatus tear, and right carpal tunnel syndrome are each rated as 20 percent disabling effective May 20, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations and the need to reschedule them. Additionally, a supplemental statement of the case must be issued as part of this process.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach condition and carpal tunnel syndrome were reopened, but the Board denied reopening of these claims due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for status post arthroscopic medial meniscectomy of the left knee was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records from Dr. P.K., scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left wrist scar and degenerative joint disease, and determining whether these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition and right hand carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's left wrist disability has been rated at 10 percent since November 7, 2008. The evidence does not support a higher rating as the functional loss due to pain is already considered in the current 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the unavailability of his service treatment records and a need for further examination. The issues include service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and right lateral epicondylitis are not related to her active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation, nor is there any credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and tenosynovitis of the left wrist, finding no current disabilities involving these conditions.