Wrist & hand decisions — 2016

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral wrist disability, which he contends began during his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The VA examiner found no current diagnosis of a wrist condition but noted that the Veteran's complaints are otherwise at least as likely as not due to an undiagnosed illness resulting from his service.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, low back disability, left knee disability, right wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep disorder are all granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of her bilateral wrist disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were denied. Her claim for a higher rating for sinusitis with headaches was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right wrist disorder other than carpal tunnel syndrome, and therefore service connection for such is denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of chronic disability of the right or left hand or wrist during service, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection. The claim for hemorrhoids was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional records and further consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss and PTSD, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service noise exposure or stressors sufficient to establish service connection.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, including the navicular fracture and DJD, has been rated at 30 percent effective September 26, 2014. Prior to this date, a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne is granted, as it is presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure. The right wrist arthritis claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that an addendum to the May 2010 VA examination is necessary before a decision can be reached on this matter.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to her period of active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and initial ratings have been withdrawn. The appeal for a temporary total rating due to right wrist fusion is dismissed.

The Veteran does not have a current left hand or left wrist disability that was caused by his service.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals, including those for increased ratings and service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist disability, right knee degenerative joint disease, hiatal hernia and GERD, and right eye retinal detachment did not have onset in service or were not caused by his active military service.

The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for a right wrist ganglion cyst, finding that new evidence did not provide a more complete picture of the circumstances surrounding the origin of the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a video conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The issues of increased rating and new and material evidence are held in abeyance pending the hearing.