Wrist & hand decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from the February 2015 VA examiner and ensuring that all requested development is completed. The claims will be readjudicated after this.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist is etiologically related to his service-connected fractured right wrist, and therefore granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in functional impairment that causes him to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person due to his inability to dress, feed himself, and perform activities of daily living without assistance.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome disabilities were not related to service. The evidence did not show a chronic disability in service or within one year of discharge, and there was no medical nexus between current disabilities and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a higher initial rating for supracervical hysterectomy, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of the issues related to service connection for various conditions, including tinea, bilateral hand arthritis, shoulder bursitis, elbow bursitis, wrist degenerative arthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, lumbar spondylosis, right knee osteoarthritis, and depressive disorder.

The Board is remanding the claims of service connection for ED, a left wrist condition, a left ankle condition, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric condition (including posttraumatic stress disorder and depression) due to their interrelated nature. The claim of service connection for hypertension is also being remanded as it may be related to the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case to consider whether an extraschedular rating is warranted for the Veteran's right wrist disability.

The Veteran does not have a neurological disability of either upper extremity, to include carpal tunnel syndrome or peripheral neuropathy, that was caused or aggravated by his service.

The Board has ordered another VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right wrist disability is related to service, including his reported in-service injury. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand and a rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of dislocations of the right (major) finger, status post fusion of the PIP joint, with swan neck deformity of the right small finger.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with the effective date set at May 12, 2014. The Veteran was awarded service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are granted. Service connection is established for hand tremors, bilateral wrist disability, reactive arthritis with sacroiliitis residuals, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and right shoulder inferior labral tear with acromioclavicular degenerative joint disease. Increased evaluations are assigned.

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome has been withdrawn by his representative.

The Veteran's ganglion cysts in both wrists are currently evaluated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 7819, and do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on limitation of motion or other functional impairment.

The Board has found that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral cataracts and bilateral pterygium are related to his active service. The claims for rheumatoid arthritis of the shoulders, wrists, and hands remain pending as they require additional development.

The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is etiologically related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has also determined that the Veteran does not have an enlarged heart during the appeal period.