Wrist & hand decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and TDIU due to deficiencies in the examinations provided. The Veteran needs a new VA examination for his left shoulder disability and right wrist disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left wrist disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's combined rating for her service-connected conditions (mood disorder, left hip bursitis, and right wrist tendonitis) is 80 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of unemployability due to these disabilities alone.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and panic disorder with anxiety.,Service connection is established for both conditions based on their onset during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, migraine headaches, left shoulder strain with glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, left elbow strain, right elbow strain, left wrist sprain, right wrist sprain, cervical spine strain, left ankle strain, right ankle strain, and left knee strain with arthritis. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.,The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain with arthritis. The Board found that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left wrist sprain and right ankle sprain was received on April 10, 2014. The Board finds that the earliest claim for entitlement to benefits for both a left wrist sprain and a right ankle sprain was received on April 10, 2014.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and anxiety), cervical spine disability, hypertension, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and low back disability are all related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a right wrist injury and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right forearm disability, characterized by symptoms of pain and numbness in her hand and fingers, does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the right hand CTS, left hand CTS, bilateral plantar fasciitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and headache disability claims. The pes planus claim was also withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger fingers have been evaluated as 30 percent for the right hand and 20 percent for the left hand, but a higher evaluation is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA outpatient treatment records. A VA examination will also be scheduled to determine the nature and etiology of her bilateral hand, knee, and low back disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's right wrist and lumbar spine disorders were not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle tendonitis, thus denying both claims for service connection.

The Board found that a cervical spine disability was incurred in service and granted service connection for it. The lumbar spine, left leg (including ankle and knee disorders), right wrist, right knee, and right arm disabilities were not shown to be related to service or any presumptive exposure basis.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, bilateral wrist disability, bilateral knee disability, left ankle disability, bipolar disorder, and a low heart rate. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and heart disability. The appeal for service connection of the bilateral hip disability was not addressed as it is no longer on appeal due to the Court's remand.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is required.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the loss of the Veteran's claim file and undeliverable communication. The case is now REMANDED for further action.