Wrist & hand decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, rated at 70 percent disabling, has rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case back to the AOJ for further consideration, including scheduling a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be related to his service-connected tonsillar hypertrophy, and the claim for direct service connection is granted.,There is no evidence of a current GERD disability or that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The claim for service connection for GERD is denied.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with bilateral wrist pain since his military service, and this condition is found to be directly related to an in-service injury. The claim for direct service connection for a bilateral wrist disability is granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, both secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a fractured jaw, including limitation of jaw function (other than residuals of fracture of left zygomatic arch; with a patch of hypesthesia on the left cheek) was granted. The other claims were not addressed in detail.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and therefore denied all claims on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board found that the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and is not proximately due to, or aggravated by, his service-connected ulnar neuropathy of the right elbow.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to her assertion that her right hand carpal tunnel condition has worsened since the last VA examination in July 2014. She needs a new VA examination and any relevant medical records should be obtained.

The Veteran's left wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 5215. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating based on ankylosis or other criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of current disability severity and a need for additional examinations.

The Board finds that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right ankle and left wrist strain did not initially manifest during service or are otherwise etiologically related to his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral patellar tendinitis (jumper's knee), bilateral shin splints, and elbow osteoarthritis. The remaining claims of service connection for sleep apnea, TBI including headaches and seizures, and a disorder of the thoracic and/or lumbar spine are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the issues regarding TDIU, left wrist disability rating, and special monthly compensation for loss of use of the left hand are all granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to an unforeseeable transportation issue preventing the scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be rescheduled for a new hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) status-post surgical release, finding that it is proximately due to or the result of service-connected fibromyalgia. The issue of a temporary total disability evaluation based on CTS treatment remains pending.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for the denial of service connection for bilateral hip, wrist, elbow, and knee disabilities at a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including obtaining VA treatment records, determining service connection based on exposure in inland waters, and providing medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of each condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right wrist disability and ganglion cyst removal were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain, right knee osteoarthritis status post-surgery with loss of cartilage in patella and femoral areas, and left wrist scaphoid fracture are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for any of these conditions.