Wrist & hand decisions — 2015

The Veteran's right wrist disorder is as likely as not caused by his service-connected major depression, and the Board finds that he has a right wrist disability that is secondary to his service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of anthrax vaccine, finding that the Veteran's claim was not supported by sufficient evidence to reopen her previously denied claims.

The Veteran's service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity have been rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The evidence does not show that the disability warrants a rating greater than 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for degenerative disc disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine, and residuals of left wrist strain with a history of fracture are being remanded due to incomplete records. The VA is instructed to obtain all outstanding treatment records from various facilities and any vocational rehabilitation records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining her Reserve and active duty service treatment records, as well as any private sector medical records. She must also be asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain her VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining SSA records and updated VA/privately obtained treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of his right and left wrist disabilities, warts, left shoulder disability, and migraines have been denied as the earliest communications indicating intent to file a claim were received after the assigned effective dates.,No effective date prior to June 23, 2011 has been established for the grant of service connection for warts. The earliest communication was on June 23, 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and a left knee disability, finding that the new evidence submitted was not sufficient to raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to an inadequate VA medical opinion, and further development is required.

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board has determined that a higher 30 percent evaluation is warranted based on moderate incomplete paralysis of the major median nerve.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a fractured right wrist, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted since the previous denial in December 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current carpal tunnel syndrome related to service, and denied his claim for hearing loss. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is found to be secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing at the earliest opportunity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for various service-connected disabilities, including right wrist complex tear of the triangular fibrocartilage, limitation dorsal palmar flexion of the left wrist, limitation of supination and/or pronation of the left forearm, malunion and deformity of distal radius, nonunion of styloid process of left ulna, residual scar left forearm, and left lateral epicondylitis. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, as well as to obtain any SSA records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her service-connected disabilities, including a new VA examination for her lumbar spine disability and a Social and Industrial Survey.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of a right wrist fracture was denied as the injury did not result from carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on VA's part.

The Veteran's request for an extension of a temporary total rating based on surgical or other treatment necessitating convalescence beyond October 31, 2007 was denied as the evidence did not show severe postoperative residuals such as incompletely healed surgical wounds, stumps of recent amputations, therapeutic immobilization of one major joint or more, application of a body cast, the necessity for house confinement, the necessity for continued use of a wheelchair or crutches with regular weight-bearing prohibited, or immobilization by cast.