Wrist & hand decisions — 2015

The Veteran's right wrist arthritis and median nerve paralysis are currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for these conditions. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating or reopen the claim.

The Veteran's PTSD alone, combined with other service-connected disabilities rated at 60 percent or more, meets the criteria for a TDIU rating from July 30, 2010. The Veteran is also eligible for SMC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s) due to his PTSD alone.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues of service connection for a bilateral wrist condition and an undiagnosed illness as a result of the Gulf War are not resolved.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right wrist DJD, carpal tunnel syndrome, and shoulder disability.

The Veteran does not have a current right hip disability, and the evidence does not establish service connection for any of his other claimed conditions. The Board finds that there is no basis to grant service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for various service-connected conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting any of the requested increased evaluations.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and dislocated ribs have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for a disorder manifested by pain in the shoulders, wrists, and knees (arthritis), as well as stomach disorder and scar on the head. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred during or related to active duty.,Service records from active duty do not show any complaints, treatment, or diagnosis of arthritis or chronic joint problems, stomach disorders, or a surgical scar on the head.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current disabilities for the Veteran's right knee, left wrist, right wrist and right ankle claims. Therefore, these claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and status post right index finger MCPJ injury are not related to his in-service laceration, and thus service connection for loss of feeling and motion in the right index finger is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA medical records and scheduling the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to assess her right hand and wrist disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, a back disorder, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity and each lower extremity. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered to be related to her military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hives, bladder infections, PID, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome of the hands, myopia (eye disability), vaginal yeast infections, toenail fungus, and a back condition have all been denied. The Veteran has not provided new evidence that would reopen any of these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis and asthma was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical findings and scheduling examinations to address the impact of his service-connected left wrist disability on his forearm/wrist function and the presence/severity of his right hand scar.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at the highest possible rating under the applicable criteria, but his lumbar spine disorder does not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,His migraine headaches are currently rated as 30 percent disabling and do not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and right hand and wrist disabilities are not attributable to service, as there is no evidence of chronic conditions during or within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected lumbar strain and right wrist tendonitis, as well as any current disability of the right wrist other than tendonitis.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, characterized by degenerative joint disease, is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5215. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for De Quervain's tenosynovitis, left wrist was dismissed due to the RO severing service connection for this condition effective February 1, 2011 on the basis of CUE.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and an inadequate examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic bilateral hand disability is pending.