Wrist & hand decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type 2. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a multiple joint disorder is also granted.

The Veteran's bilateral wrist De Quervain's tenosynovitis has been rated at 20 percent since July 22, 2009.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to address whether the Veteran's left carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) had its onset during her military service, or is otherwise related to such service. The examiner must also determine if the right CTS aggravated the left CTS.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to failure to report for VA examinations and other procedural issues.

The Board found no current right ear hearing loss disability and denied service connection for the Veteran's claims of right ear hearing loss, skin disorder, right hand arthritis, and left wrist disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and right wrist disability, have rendered him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Veteran's motions alleging clear and unmistakable error in the December 2011 Board decision were dismissed due to the Court's August 2013 Memorandum Decision affirming the Board's decision, which became final.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for bilateral knee disability, shoulder disability, elbow disability, wrist disability, and hip disability due to cold injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, including as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and/or diabetes, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or secondary aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed right hip piriformis syndrome, right leg neuropathy, right shoulder strain and AC joint arthritis, as well as his right wrist/arm disorder (carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, right arm neuropathy).

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an inadequate VA examination and the need to consider the Veteran's lay assertions of in-service wrist pain.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development of his right wrist disability, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, as well as an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right shoulder injury and left wrist fracture residuals have not been found to warrant a compensable rating during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a ganglion cyst of the dorsal aspect of the left wrist was granted, but only up to May 11, 2015. The disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist disability and low back disability, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to the current conditions. The Veteran's claim for low back disability is being remanded for additional development.

The Board found no evidence to support a claim of additional disability resulting from VA care, and thus denied the Veteran's request for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including consideration of a TDIU claim and potential extra-schedular evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his conditions did not warrant higher evaluations or additional benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthralgia is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for left wrist fracture residuals, Peyronie's Disease, and urinary incontinence as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The claim of entitlement to service connection for depression was reopened due to new evidence received since the last final denial.