Wrist & hand decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular rating requirement for assignment of a TDIU and he is reasonably shown to be unable to secure or follow a substantial gainful occupation as a result of these disabilities. The claim for increase in left shoulder disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, bilateral hand and wrist disability, and left elbow disorder are not related to her active duty service or to her diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and granted an initial rating of 10% for a right wrist ganglion cyst, but the appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral wrist and left hand disabilities did not manifest during service or are otherwise etiologically related to her active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his appeal for TDIU on an extraschedular basis is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records and for proper readjudication of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations to assess his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on several conditions have been dismissed due to voluntary withdrawals by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were granted. Service connection was established for migraine headaches, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and low back disability. The Veteran received a 100% rating for her left knee patellofemoral syndrome effective from April 6, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his conditions preclude such employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records, verifying service periods, and scheduling appropriate examinations.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for right knee disability, bilateral wrist disability and bilateral ankle disability. The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability was granted service connection based on degenerative arthritis, but his right knee and bilateral wrist disabilities were not established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist disability is not service connected and his depressive disorder claim was dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal. The Board also denied secondary service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hand disorders, including carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger fingers, were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral ankle and wrist disorders, lumbar spine disorder, tinnitus, and somnambulism. The decision found that there was no evidence of chronic or compensable disabilities during service or within one year post-service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities related to his claimed right shoulder, left shoulder, left wrist, index and middle fingers, right knee, right ankle, bilateral foot disorder (including cold injury residuals), or low back disorders. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants a TDIU for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's conditions, including diabetes and its related complications, are not service connected. The Board denied the claims for service connection based on lack of evidence showing onset or causation in service.

The Veteran's TBI residuals are granted, but his bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is denied.