Wrist & hand decisions — 2016

The Veteran's right wrist fracture with traumatic arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, and his neuropathy of the right upper extremity is rated at 10 percent. The issues have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues of entitlement to ratings in excess of 50 percent for psoriatic arthritis with bilateral pes planus and hallux valgus, right ankle psoriatic arthritis, left ankle psoriatic arthritis, and left wrist psoriatic arthritis have been dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist degenerative joint disease and left great toe hallux valgus with degenerative joint disease have been granted initial ratings of 10 percent each, effective September 1, 2008. The Veteran's other claims remain unresolved.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, and the criteria for entitlement to TDIU have not been met.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for ganglion cyst in the right wrist was denied, and her reduction of a 20% evaluation to noncompensable (0%) for limitation of motion of the right thumb was also denied. The RO did not provide proper procedures for reducing the thumb evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant an earlier effective date for the grants of service connection.,New and material evidence was presented to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hair loss, but the claim remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bipolar disorder has been withdrawn. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected sarcoidosis is being reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection for hypertension is also being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left wrist fracture, finding that the Veteran's lay evidence was satisfactory and his in-service injury related to his current condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the right and left wrists were denied. The right wrist was rated at 10 percent, while the left wrist was rated based on unfavorable ankylosis with ulnar deviation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist fracture residuals do not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disability and has determined that there is sufficient evidence to establish that his preexisting condition was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (including panic disorder with agoraphobia) is found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.,The Veteran's residuals of a fractured nose to include sinusitis are found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his left wrist disability. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has also been added due to the impact it may have on the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional records and for further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's fatigue, joint pain and myalgia are not due to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness. The symptoms are more likely related to his diagnosed conditions such as cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disability, wrist disability, diabetes with neuropathy, PTSD, and fibromyalgia.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a right wrist disability, which was diagnosed as degenerative joint disease and carpal tunnel syndrome. The case has been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.