Wrist & hand decisions — 2016

The Veteran's left wrist disability was granted a 10 percent rating from October 9, 2007 to April 28, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right wrist post-operative residuals are proximately due to his service-connected right elbow disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and issuance of an SOC on certain issues. The Veteran will be provided with another opportunity to perfect his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his diabetes mellitus and related conditions, including diabetic neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome, have been denied. The claim for service connection for a colon condition has been reopened but remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are as likely as not of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or loss of use of upper or lower extremities, blindness in both eyes, anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands, deep partial or full thickness or subdermal burns, or residuals of an inhalation injury. Therefore, he is not entitled to specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection and increased ratings for various knee disabilities, as well as his right eye disability. The case will be returned to the AOJ after completion of this development.

The Veteran's shortening of the right lower extremity is found to be caused by his service-connected right sacroiliac degenerative joint disease, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's right ankle disability. The claim for TDIU is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for a right elbow disorder was granted. His left wrist scar is rated at 10 percent due to its size and function.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death from colon cancer, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's National Guard service records and to verify all periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). The claim will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current right wrist conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial rating for left ear hearing loss was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The right wrist disability issues, including nerve damage, are pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right hand disability, including carpal tunnel syndrome, is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome as the Veteran's conditions did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty or are not related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a back condition and granted it. The claims for left ankle, right wrist, numbness of hands and arms, right rib, neck, and left elbow conditions were denied.

The Veteran's DDD and DJD of the thoracic and lumbar spine were rated at 10 percent prior to April 17, 2015 and at 20 percent thereafter. The Board found that these ratings adequately capture his disability picture.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for headaches and a sinus disorder, as well as a bilateral foot disorder and left wrist laceration residuals. The Board has remanded these matters due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran seeks service connection for a sinus disorder that he contends began in service and is related to his sleep apnea. The Board also needs further evidence regarding this claim, including private treatment records and VA examination results.,The Veteran claims service connection for bilateral foot disorders, which he asserts have been present since service. He also contends the left wrist laceration residuals are related to his in-service injury. These matters require additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on etiology and severity of these conditions.,The Veteran seeks an initial compensable rating for a service-connected left wrist laceration with scar. The Board has directed further development regarding this matter as well.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and right elbow s/p knot removal; and to left elbow-arm secondary to left shoulder. The Veteran's other claims were not supported by the evidence of record.